Isaiah 61

¹ The spirit of Lord Yahweh is on me for Yahweh has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the news tothe afflicted, to soothe the broken-hearted,

² to proclaim liberty to captives, release to those in prison, to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh anda day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn

³ (to give to Zion's mourners), to give them for ashes a garland, for mourning-dress, the oil of gladness,for despondency, festal attire; and they wil be cal ed 'terebinths of saving justice', planted by Yahweh to glorifyhim.

⁴ They wil rebuild the ancient ruins, they wil raise what has long lain waste, they wil restore the ruinedcities, al that has lain waste for ages past.

⁵ Strangers wil come forward to feed your flocks, foreigners be your ploughmen and vinedressers;

⁶ but you will be cal ed 'priests of Yahweh' and be addressed as 'ministers of our God'. You will feed onthe wealth of nations, you wil supplant them in their glory.

⁷ To make up for your shame, you wil receive double; instead of disgrace, shouts of joy wil be their lot;yes, they wil have a double portion in their country and everlasting joy wil be theirs.

⁸ For I am Yahweh: I love fair judgement, I hate robbery and wrong-doing, and I shal reward themfaithful y and make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their race wil be famous throughout the nations and their offspring throughout the peoples. All whosee them wil admit that they are a race whom Yahweh has blessed.

¹⁰ I exult for joy in Yahweh, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in garments of salvation,he has wrapped me in a cloak of saving justice, like a bridegroom wearing his garland, like a bride adorned inher jewels.

¹¹ For as the earth sends up its shoots and a garden makes seeds sprout, so Lord Yahweh makessaving justice and praise spring up in the sight of al nations.