ኢሳይያስ 61

Good news for the lowly

¹The Spirit of the Lord GOD rests on me, \q for the LORD has anointed me to carry good news to the lowly. \q He has sent me to bandage hearts that are broken, \q to announce freedom for captives and, for those in chains, eyes opened wide,^{ab 2}to announce a year when the LORD shows favor \q and a day when our God takes vengeance, \q to console all who grieve, ³to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give them a festive turban in place of ashes, \q the oil of rejoicing in place of grief, \q a cloak of praise in place of a spirit burning low. \q They will be named oaks of righteousness, \q planted by the LORD to show his beauty. ⁴They will build up what has lain in ruins since long ago \q and restore places left empty in their ancestors’ time; \q they will make new again the wrecked cities, \q deserted for one generation after another. ⁵Outsiders will stand ready to pasture your flocks, \q and people from foreign lands will plow your fields and tend your vines. ⁶And you will be known as priests of the LORD; \q people will speak of you as those who serve our God. \q You will live on the wealth of the nations \q and take pride in their glory.^{c 7}In place of your shame you will have a double share; \q instead of disgrace they will sing out over what is given them. \q So in their own land they will take possession of a double share, \q and joy that never ends will belong to them. ⁸For I, the LORD, am a lover of justice \q and I hate robbery joined to wrongdoing. \q I will pay them their wages faithfully \q and make a covenant with them that lasts forever.^{d 9}Their children will be famous among the nations, \q and their descendants among the peoples. \q Anyone who sees them will recognize them \q as a line of children whom the LORD has blessed.

Dressed in salvation

¹⁰My joy in the LORD overflows; my whole being delights in my God. \q He has dressed me in clothing of salvation \q and wrapped me in a cloak of righteousness, \q like a bridegroom wearing a turban as a priest does, \q like a bride decked out in her jewels.^{e 11}As the ground pushes up its new growth, \q as a garden makes its seeds break through the soil, \q so the Lord GOD will make righteousness and praise grow up in full view of every nation.