to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    (A)to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
(B)the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
(C)that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, (D)that he may be glorified.[a]
(E)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.

(F)Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:3 Or that he may display his beauty

    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown(A) of beauty
    instead of ashes,(B)
the oil(C) of joy
    instead of mourning,(D)
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting(E) of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.(F)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins(G)
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
Strangers(H) will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

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