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The Year When the Lord Sets His People Free

61 The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me.
    The Lord has anointed me
    to announce good news to poor people.
He has sent me to comfort
    those whose hearts have been broken.
He has sent me to announce freedom
    for those who have been captured.
He wants me to set prisoners free
    from their dark cells.
He has sent me to announce the year
    when he will set his people free.
He wants me to announce the day
    when he will pay his enemies back.
Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.
    He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow.
I will put beautiful crowns on their heads
    in place of ashes.
I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy
    instead of sorrow.
I will give them a spirit of praise
    in place of a spirit of sadness.
They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight.
    The Lord himself will plant them in the land.
    That will show how glorious he is.

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The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit(A) of the Sovereign Lord(B) is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed(C) me
    to proclaim good news(D) to the poor.(E)
He has sent me to bind up(F) the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom(G) for the captives(H)
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor(I)
    and the day of vengeance(J) of our God,
to comfort(K) all who mourn,(L)
    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown(M) of beauty
    instead of ashes,(N)
the oil(O) of joy
    instead of mourning,(P)
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting(Q) of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind