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Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
 because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
 he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
 and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
 and the day of vengeance of our God;
 to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
 to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
 the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
 the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
 they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
 the devastations of many generations.

5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
 foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;
 they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
 and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
 instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
 they shall have everlasting joy.

8 For I the LORD love justice;
 I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
 and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
 and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
 that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
 my soul 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 like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
 and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
 and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
 to sprout up before all the nations.