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 humble,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and release to those in prison;
2to proclaim a year of the LORD's favour
and a day of the vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn ,
3to give them garlands instead of ashes,
oil of gladness instead of mourners' tears,
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called Trees of Righteousness,
planted by the LORD for his glory.
4Ancient ruins shall be rebuilt
and sites long desolate restored;
they shall repair the ruined cities
and restore what has long lain desolate.
5Foreigners shall serve as shepherds of your flocks,
and aliens shall till your land and tend your vines;
6but you shall be called priests of the LORD
and be named ministers of our God;
you shall enjoy the wealth of other nations
and be furnished with their riches.
7And so, because shame in double measure
and jeers and insults have been my people's lot,
they shall receive in their own land a double measure of wealth,
and everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8For I, the LORD, love justice
and hate robbery and wrong-doing;
I will grant them a sure reward
and make an everlasting covenant with them;
9their posterity will be renowned among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them will acknowledge in them
a race whom the LORD has blessed. 10Let me rejoice in the LORD with all my heart,
let me exult in my God;
for he has robed me in salvation as a garment
and clothed me in integrity as a cloak,
like a bridegroom with his priestly garland,
or a bride decked in her jewels.
11For, as the earth puts forth her blossom
or bushes in the garden burst into flower,
so shall the Lord GOD make righteousness and praise
blossom before all the nations.