Isaiah 61

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to bring good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and opening of the prison to the bound.

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

3to appoint for the mourners of Zion, to give them a headdress instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; and they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may display his glory.

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will raise up the former desolations; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of generation after generation.

5Foreigners will stand and shepherd your flocks, and foreigners' sons will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

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

7Instead of your shame, there will be a double portion; and instead of disgrace, they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess a double portion; everlasting joy will be theirs.

8For I, Yahweh, love justice; I hate robbery with burnt offering. And I will give them their recompense in faithfulness, and I will cut an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them will recognize that they are offspring blessed by Yahweh.

10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh; my soul will exult in my God, for he has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom who adorns himself with a priestly headdress, and like a bride who decks herself with her jewelry.

11For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.