Isaiah 61

1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.11 For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

ISAIAH 61

The Good News of Victory

1  t t The Spirit of the [Lord] God
has taken control of me!
The [Lord] has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed
the good news,
to heal the brokenhearted,
and to announce freedom
for prisoners and captives.

2  t This is the year
when the [Lord] God
will show kindness to us
and punish our enemies.
The [Lord] has sent me
to comfort those who mourn,

3 especially in Jerusalem.
He sent me to give them flowers
in place of their sorrow,
olive oil in place of tears,
and joyous praise
in place of broken hearts.
They will be called
“Trees of Justice,”
planted by the [Lord]
to honor his name.

4 Then they will rebuild cities
that have been in ruins
for many generations.

5 They will hire foreigners
to take care of their sheep
and their vineyards.

6 But they themselves will be
priests and servants
of the [Lord] our God.
The treasures of the nations
will belong to them,
and they will be famous.t

7 They were terribly insulted
and horribly mistreated;
now they will be greatly blessed
and joyful forever.

The [Lord] Loves Justice

8 I, the [Lord], love justice!
But I hate robbery
and injustice.t
My people, I solemnly promise
to reward you
with an eternal agreement.

9 Your descendants will be known
in every nation.
All who see them will realize
that they have been blessed,
by me, the [Lord].

Celebrate and Shout

10  t I celebrate and shout
because of my [Lord] God.
His saving power and justice
are the very clothes I wear.
They are more beautiful
than the jewelry worn
by a bride or groom.

11 The [Lord] will bring about
justice and praise
in every nation on earth,
like flowers blooming
in a garden.