Isaiah 61

1The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh rests upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to proclaim good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken of heart, to announce liberty to captives, and prison opening to the bound.

2to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor and the day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn.

3To appoint beauty for the mourners of Zion instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of sorrow, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; to call them oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.

4They will rebuild the ruins of old, restore the desolations of former times, and renew the wasted cities, the desolate places generation after generation.

5Foreigners will stand and tend your flocks, and sons of aliens will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

6But you will be called priests of Yahweh; you will be proclaimed ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their glory.

7Instead of your shame, double; instead of reproach, they will shout for joy in their portion. Therefore in their land they will inherit double; everlasting joy will be theirs.

8For I, Yahweh, love justice, hate robbery in a burnt offering, and I will give them their reward faithfully and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their seed will be known among the nations, their offspring among the peoples; all who see them will recognize them as the seed Yahweh has blessed.

10I exult greatly in Yahweh; my soul rejoices in my God, for he has arrayed me in salvation garments, a robe of righteousness envelops me, as a bridegroom adorns a splendid turban and as a bride arrays her jewels.

11For as the earth yields its bud, and as a garden causes its sowings to sprout, so the Lord Yahweh will make righteousness and praise sprout before all the nations.