Isaiah

61 The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me,+

Because Jehovah anointed me to declare good news to the meek.+

He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And the wide opening of the eyes to the prisoners,+

 2 To proclaim the year of Jehovah’s goodwill*

And the day of vengeance of our God,+

To comfort all who mourn,+

 3 To provide for those mourning over Zion,

To give them a headdress instead of ashes,

The oil of exultation instead of mourning,

The garment of praise instead of a despondent spirit.

And they will be called big trees of righteousness,

The planting of Jehovah, in order to glorify* him.+

 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins;

They will raise up the desolated places of the past,+

And they will restore the devastated cities,+

The places that lay desolate for generation after generation.+

 5 “Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks,

And foreigners+ will be your farmers and your vinedressers.+

 6 As for you, you will be called the priests of Jehovah;+

They will call you the ministers of our God.

You will eat the resources of the nations,+

And about their glory* you will boast.

 7 Instead of shame you will have a double portion,

And instead of humiliation they will shout joyfully over their share.

 8 For I, Jehovah, love justice;+

I hate robbery and unrighteousness.+

I will faithfully give them their wages,

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them.+

 9 Their offspring* will be known among the nations+

And their descendants among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize them,

That they are the offspring* whom Jehovah has blessed.”+

For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;+

He has wrapped me with the robe* of righteousness,

Just like a bridegroom who wears a turban like that of a priest,+

And like a bride who adorns herself with her ornaments.

11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts

And as the garden makes what is sown in it sprout,

So will the Sovereign Lord Jehovah

Cause righteousness+ and praise to sprout+ before all the nations.