Isaiah 61

The Lord’s Message of Freedom

1 The Lord God has put his Spirit in me, because the Lord has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken,
to tell the captives they are free, and to tell the prisoners they are released.

2 He has sent me to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness and the time when our God will punish evil people.
He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad

3 and to help the sorrowing people of Jerusalem.
I will give them a crown to replace their ashes, and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow, and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness.
Then they will be called Trees of Goodness, trees planted by the Lord to show his greatness.

4 They will rebuild the old ruins and restore the places destroyed long ago.
They will repair the ruined cities that were destroyed for so long.

5 My people, foreigners will come to tend your sheep. People from other countries will tend your fields and vineyards.

6 You will be called priests of the Lord; you will be named the servants of our God.
You will have riches from all the nations on earth, and you will take pride in them.

7 Instead of being ashamed, my people will receive twice as much wealth. Instead of being disgraced, they will be happy because of what they receive.
They will receive a double share of the land, so their happiness will continue forever.

8 “I, the Lord, love justice. I hate stealing and everything that is wrong.
I will be fair and give my people what they should have, and I will make an agreement with them that will continue forever.

9 Everyone in all nations will know the children of my people, and their children will be known among the nations.
Anyone who sees them will know that they are people the Lord has blessed.”

10 The Lord makes me very happy; all that I am rejoices in my God.
He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness,
like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, like a bride dressed in jewels.

11 The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden causes the seeds planted in it to grow.
In the same way the Lord God will make goodness and praise come from all the nations.

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.