Isaiah 61

Chapter 61

Good News for the Oppressed

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
for the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.t2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the LORD’s favor has come,t
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.3 To all who mourn in Israel,t
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the LORD has planted for his own glory.4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations.5 Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards.6 You will be called priests of the LORD,
ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
and boast in their riches.7 Instead of shame and dishonor,
you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.8 “For I, the LORD, love justice.
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
and make an everlasting covenant with them.9 Their descendants will be recognized
and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
the LORD has blessed.”10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
or a bride with her jewels.11 The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world.
Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
with plants springing up everywhere.

Isaiah 62

Chapter 62

Isaiah’s Prayer for Jerusalem

1 Because I love Zion,
I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,
I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her
until her righteousness shines like the dawn,
and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.2 The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the LORD’s own mouth.3 The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”t
or “The Desolate Land.”t
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”t
and “The Bride of God,”t
for the LORD delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,
just as a young man commits himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD.7 Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work,
until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.8 The LORD has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength:
“I will never again hand you over to your enemies.
Never again will foreign warriors come
and take away your grain and new wine.9 You raised the grain, and you will eat it,
praising the LORD.
Within the courtyards of the Temple,
you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.”10 Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.11 The LORD has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Israel,t
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”12 They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the LORD.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

Isaiah 63

Chapter 63

Judgment against the LORD’s Enemies

1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
from the city of Bozrah,
with his clothing stained red?
Who is this in royal robes,
marching in his great strength?
“It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation!
It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!”2 Why are your clothes so red,
as if you have been treading out grapes?3 “I have been treading the winepress alone;
no one was there to help me.
In my anger I have trampled my enemies
as if they were grapes.
In my fury I have trampled my foes.
Their blood has stained my clothes.4 For the time has come for me to avenge my people,
to ransom them from their oppressors.5 I was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm,
and my wrath sustained me.6 I crushed the nations in my anger
and made them stagger and fall to the ground,
spilling their blood upon the earth.”

Praise for Deliverance

7 I will tell of the LORD’s unfailing love.
I will praise the LORD for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
which he has granted according to his mercy and love.8 He said, “They are my very own people.
Surely they will not betray me again.”
And he became their Savior.9 In all their suffering he also suffered,
and he personallyt rescued them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
He lifted them up and carried them
through all the years.10 But they rebelled against him
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he became their enemy
and fought against them.11 Then they remembered those days of old
when Moses led his people out of Egypt.
They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea,
with Moses as their shepherd?
Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit
to be among his people?12 Where is the one whose power was displayed
when Moses lifted up his hand—
the one who divided the sea before them,
making himself famous forever?13 Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea?
They were like fine stallions
racing through the desert, never stumbling.14 As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley,
the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
You led your people, LORD,
and gained a magnificent reputation.”

Prayer for Mercy and Pardon

15 LORD, look down from heaven;
look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might
you used to show on our behalf?
Where are your mercy and compassion now?16 Surely you are still our Father!
Even if Abraham and Jacobt would disown us,
LORD, you would still be our Father.
You are our Redeemer from ages past.17 LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants,
the tribes that are your special possession.18 How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place,
and now our enemies have destroyed it.19 Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to you,
as though we had never been known as your people.