Isaiah 61:1–9

The Year of Yahweh’s Favor

61The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me,

because Yahweh has anointed me,

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,^a

to proclaim^b release to the captives

and liberation to those who are bound,

²to proclaim^c the year of Yahweh’s favor,

and our God’s day of vengeance,

to comfort all those in mourning,

³to give^d for those in mourning in Zion,

to give them a head wrap instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.

And they will be called^e oaks of righteousness,

the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.

⁴And they shall build the ancient ruins,

they shall erect the former deserted places.

And they shall restore the devastated cities,^f

the deserted places of many generations.^g

⁵And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,^h

and foreignersⁱ shall be your farmers and vinedressers.

⁶But^j you shall be called the priests of Yahweh,

you will be called^k servers of our God.

You shall eat the wealth of the nations,

and you shall boast in their riches.

⁷Instead of your shame, a double portion,

and instead of insult, they will rejoice over their portion.

Therefore they will take a double portion in their land;

they shall possess everlasting joy.^l

⁸For I, Yahweh, love justice,

hate robbery and^m injustice,

and I will faithfullyⁿ give their reward,

and I will make^o an everlasting covenant with^p them.

⁹And their descendants^q will be known among the nations,

and their offspring in the midst of the peoples.

All those who see them shall recognize them,

that they are descendants^r whom Yahweh has blessed.