CHAPTER 61

                 ¹The LORD’s spirit is upon me

                     as the LORD has anointed me

                 to bring good tidings to the poor,

                     to bind up the broken-hearted,

                 to proclaim freedom to the captives,

                     to the prisoners, release,

                 ²to proclaim a year of favor for the LORD

                     and a day of vengeance for our God,

                         to comfort all who mourn,

                 ³to set out for the mourners of Zion,

                     to give them turbans instead of ashes,

                 joy’s oil instead of mourning,

                     a glorious wrap instead of gloomy spirit.

                 And they shall be called oaks of victory,

                     God’s planting in which to glory.

                 ⁴And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins,

                     the desolate places of yore they shall raise up,

                 and renew the ravaged towns,

                     and the desolate places of times long past.

                 ⁵And foreigners shall stand and tend your flocks

                     and strangers be your farmers and keepers of your vineyards.

                 ⁶As for you, the LORD’s priests you shall be called,

                     our God’s ministrants it shall be said of you.

                 The wealth of nations you shall enjoy

                     and in their glory revel.

                 ⁷Instead of the shame twice over and disgrace

                     they shall exult in their lot.

                 Therefore they shall possess their land twice over,

                     everlasting joy shall be theirs.

                 ⁸For I, the LORD, love justice,

                     hate robbery and vice,

                 and I will truly pay their wages,

                     an everlasting pact I will seal with them.

                 ⁹And their seed shall be known in the nations,

                     and their offspring among the peoples.

                 All who see them shall recognize

                     that they are the seed the LORD has blessed.

                 ¹⁰I shall greatly rejoice in the LORD,

                     my very being exult in my God.

                 For He has clothed me with garments of triumph,

                     has wrapped me with victory’s cloak,

                 as a bridegroom dons, priestlike, a turban

                     and as a bride is adorned in fine clothes.

                 ¹¹For as the earth brings forth its growth

                     and a garden makes its plants flourish,

                 so shall the LORD make victory flourish

                     and praise before all the nations.