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    to give[a] for those in mourning in Zion,
to give them a head wrap instead of ashes,
    the oil of joy instead of mourning,
    a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.
And they will be called[b] oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.
And they shall build the ancient ruins,
    they shall erect the former deserted places.
And they shall restore the devastated cities,[c]
    the deserted places of many generations.[d]
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,[e]
    and foreigners[f] shall be your farmers and vinedressers.
But[g] you shall be called the priests of Yahweh,
    you will be called[h] servers of our God.
You shall eat the wealth of the nations,
    and you shall boast in their riches.
Instead of your shame, a double portion,
    and instead of insult, they will rejoice over their portion.
Therefore they will take a double portion in their land;
    they shall possess everlasting joy.[i]
For I, Yahweh, love justice,
    hate robbery and[j] injustice,
and I will faithfully[k] give their reward,
    and I will make[l] an everlasting covenant with[m] them.
And their descendants[n] will be known among the nations,
    and their offspring in the midst of the peoples.
All those who see them shall recognize them,
    that they are descendants[o] whom Yahweh has blessed.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:3 Literally “place”
  2. Isaiah 61:3 Literally “it will be called to them”
  3. Isaiah 61:4 Literally “cities of devastation”
  4. Isaiah 61:4 Literally “generation and generation”
  5. Isaiah 61:5 Hebrew “flock”
  6. Isaiah 61:5 Literally “sons of a foreign country”
  7. Isaiah 61:6 Or “And”
  8. Isaiah 61:6 Literally “it shall be said of you”
  9. Isaiah 61:7 Literally “possession of joy everlasting shall be for them”
  10. Isaiah 61:8 Or “in”
  11. Isaiah 61:8 Literally “in the faithfulness”
  12. Isaiah 61:8 Literally “cut”
  13. Isaiah 61:8 Literally “to”
  14. Isaiah 61:9 Hebrew “descendant”
  15. Isaiah 61:9 Hebrew “descendant”

    to provide for Zion’s mourners,
    to give them a crown in place of ashes,
    oil of joy in place of mourning,
    a mantle of praise in place of discouragement.
They will be called Oaks of Righteousness,
    planted by the Lord to glorify himself.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
    they will restore formerly deserted places;
    they will renew ruined cities,
    places deserted in generations past.

Foreigners will stay and shepherd your sheep,
    and strangers will be your farmers and vinedressers.
You will be called The Priests of the Lord;
    Ministers of Our God, they will say about you.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and fatten[a] yourself on their riches.
Instead of shame, their[b] portion will be double;
    instead of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share.
They will possess a double portion in their land;
    everlasting joy will be theirs.
I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and dishonesty.[c]
I will faithfully give them their wage,
    and make with them an enduring covenant.
Their offspring will be known among the nations,
    and their descendants among the peoples.
All who see them will recognize
    that they are a people blessed by the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:6 Heb uncertain
  2. Isaiah 61:7 Or your
  3. Isaiah 61:8 Heb manuscripts, LXX, Syr, Tg; MT robbery with an entirely burned offering