The Year of the LORD’s Favor ... Isaiah 61

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 

   because the LORD has anointed me 

   to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

   to proclaim freedom for the captives 

   and release from darkness for the prisoners, 

² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor 

   and the day of vengeance of our God, 

to comfort all who mourn, 

 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 

to bestow on them a crown of beauty 

   instead of ashes, 

the oil of joy 

   instead of mourning, 

and a garment of praise 

   instead of a spirit of despair. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

   a planting of the LORD 

   for the display of his splendor.

 ⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins 

   and restore the places long devastated; 

they will renew the ruined cities 

   that have been devastated for generations. 

⁵ Strangers will shepherd your flocks; 

   foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 

⁶ And you will be called priests of the LORD, 

   you will be named ministers of our God. 

You will feed on the wealth of nations, 

   and in their riches you will boast.

 ⁷ Instead of your shame 

   you will receive a double portion, 

and instead of disgrace 

   you will rejoice in your inheritance. 

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, 

   and everlasting joy will be yours.

 ⁸ “For I, the LORD, love justice; 

   I hate robbery and wrongdoing. 

In my faithfulness I will reward my people 

   and make an everlasting covenant with them. 

⁹ Their descendants 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.”

 ¹⁰ I delight greatly in the LORD; 

   my soul rejoices in my God. 

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 

   and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, 

   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up 

   and a garden causes seeds to grow, 

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness 

   and praise spring up before all nations.