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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.

They will rebuild the places that were destroyed long ago.
    They will repair the buildings that have been broken down for many years.
They will make the destroyed cities like new again.
    They have been broken down for a very long time.
Outsiders will serve you by taking care of your flocks.
    People from other lands will work in your fields and vineyards.
You will be called priests of the Lord.
    You will be named workers for our God.
You will enjoy the wealth of nations.
    You will brag about getting their riches.

Instead of being put to shame
    you will receive a double share of wealth.
Instead of being dishonored
    you will be glad to be in your land.
You will receive a double share of riches there.
    And you’ll be filled with joy that will last forever.

The Lord says, “I love those who do what is right.
    I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things.
So I will be faithful to my people.
    And I will bless them.
I will make a covenant with them
    that will last forever.
Their children after them will be famous among the nations.
    Their families will be praised by people everywhere.
All those who see them will agree
    that I have blessed them.”

10 The people of Jerusalem will say,
    “We take great delight in the Lord.
    We are joyful because we belong to our God.
He has dressed us with salvation as if it were our clothes.
    He has put robes of godliness on us.
We are like a groom who is dressed up for his wedding.
    We are like a bride who decorates herself with her jewels.
11 The soil makes the young plant come up.
    A garden causes seeds to grow.
In the same way, the Lord and King will make godliness grow.
    And all the nations will praise him.”

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)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins(S)
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
Strangers(T) will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests(U) of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth(V) of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame(W)
    you will receive a double(X) portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit(Y) a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy(Z) will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;(AA)
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant(AB) with them.
Their descendants(AC) will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”(AD)

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices(AE) in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,(AF)
as a bridegroom adorns his head(AG) like a priest,
    and as a bride(AH) adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden(AI) causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness(AJ)
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind