The Good News of Deliverance

1The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the broken-hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

2to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3to provide for those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

4They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

5Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;

6but you shall be called priests of the LORD,

you shall be named ministers of our God;

you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,

and in their riches you shall glory.

7Because their61.7 Heb your shame was double,

and dishonour was proclaimed as their lot,

therefore they shall possess a double portion;

everlasting joy shall be theirs.

8For I the LORD love justice,

I hate robbery and wrongdoing;61.8 Or robbery with a burnt-offering

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their descendants shall be known among the nations,

and their offspring among the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge

that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

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.