(A)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.

(B)Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
(C)but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
    they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
(D)you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
    and in their glory you shall boast.
(E)Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
    instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
    they shall have everlasting joy.

(F)For I the Lord love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrong;[a]
(G)I will faithfully give them their recompense,
    (H)and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
    and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
    that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:8 Or robbery with a burnt offering

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

Instead of your shame(E)
    you will receive a double(F) portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit(G) a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy(H) will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;(I)
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant(J) with them.
Their descendants(K) 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.”(L)

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