1
The spirit of the Lord
because the
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2
to proclaim the year of the
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3
to provide for those who mourn in Zion--
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the
4
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;
6
but you shall be called priests of the
you shall be named ministers of our God;
you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,
and in their riches you shall glory.
7
Because their 1 shame was double,
and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot,
therefore they shall possess a double portion;
everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8
For I the
I hate robbery and wrongdoing; 2
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9
Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the
10
I will greatly rejoice in the
my whole being 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 with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord
to spring up before all the nations.