Isaiah 61:1–11
61 The Spirite of the Sovereign Lordf is on me,
because the Lord has anointedg me
to proclaim good newsh to the poor.i
He has sent me to bind upj the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedomk for the captivesl
and release from darkness for the prisoners,a
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favorm
and the day of vengeancen of our God,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crownq of beauty
instead of ashes,r
the oils of joy
instead of mourning,t
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a plantingu of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.v
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruinsw
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangersx will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priestsy of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealthz of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of your shamea
you will receive a doubleb portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inheritc a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joyd will be yours.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;e
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenantf with them.
9 Their descendantsg will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”h
10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoicesi in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,j
as a bridegroom adorns his headk like a priest,
and as a bridel adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a gardenm causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousnessn
and praise spring up before all nations.