Chapter 61

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good tidings to the afflicted;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord,

that he may be glorified.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

5 Aliens shall stand and feed your flocks,

foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord,

men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;

you shall eat the wealth of the nations,

and in their riches you shall glory.

7 Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion,

instead of dishonor you shall rejoice in your lot;

therefore in your land you shall possess a double portion;

yours shall be everlasting joy.

8 For I the Lord love justice,

I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations,

and their offspring in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to spring forth before all the nations.