Isaiah 61

The Year of the Lord's Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants 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.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all 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.