Isaiah 61

1The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce freedom to the captives, and to open the prison for those who are bound.

2to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

2He sent me to announce the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s anger, and to comfort everyone who grieves.

3to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.

3He sent me to provide for those who grieve in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a heavy spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, planted by the LORD to show his glory.

4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places destroyed long ago. They will repair the ruined cities that have been deserted for many generations.

5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.

5Foreigners will stand and watch over your sheep, and people from other lands will work your fields and your vineyards.

6But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

6But you will be called the priests of the LORD; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations and boast in their riches.

7Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.

7Instead of shame, you will receive a double portion of honor. Instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. You will possess double in your land and have everlasting joy.

8For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

8For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness, I will give them their reward and make an eternal covenant with them.

9And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.

9Their descendants will be famous among the nations and their children known among the peoples. Everyone who sees them will recognize that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my whole being will celebrate because of my God. For he has dressed me in the clothes of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, like a groom wearing a turban or a bride decorating herself with jewelry.

11For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

11Just as the earth brings out its sprouts and a garden makes seeds grow, the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up in front of all the nations.