Chapter 61

Isaiah

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,because the LORD has anointed meto bring good news to the poor;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;2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn;3to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning,the garment 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.4They shall build up the ancient ruins;they shall raise up the former devastations;they shall repair the ruined cities,the devastations of many generations.5Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;6but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;you shall eat the wealth of the nations,and in their glory you shall boast.7Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;they shall have everlasting joy.8For 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.9Their offspring shall be known among the nations,and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;all who see them shall acknowledge them,that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.10I 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 like a priest with a beautiful headdress,and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praiseto sprout up before all the nations.

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