1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the humble. He has sent me to bandage the brokenhearted, to announce freedom to the captives and release to those in chains;
2 to announce the year of the LORD's favor and the day of our God's vengeance; to comfort all who mourn;
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, a cloak of praise instead of a fainting spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, planted by the LORD to display his glory.
4 They will rebuild the ruins of long ago and raise up the places devastated in former times; they will restore the ruined cities, desolate for generation after generation.
5 Strangers will stand and tend your flocks, and foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
6 But you will be called priests of the LORD; people will speak of you as servants of our God. You will feed on the wealth of the nations and boast in their riches.
7 Instead of your shame you will have a double share, and instead of disgrace they will shout for joy over their portion. So in their land they will possess a double share; joy that lasts forever will be theirs.
8 For I, the LORD, love justice and hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully give them their recompense and make a lasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring will be renowned among the nations, and their descendants among the peoples; all who see them will recognize that they are the offspring the LORD has blessed.
10 I rejoice and rejoice in the LORD; my soul is glad in my God, for he has dressed me in garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom who wears a garland like a priest, like a bride who adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes its plants come up, and as a garden makes its seeds sprout, so the Lord GOD will make righteousness and praise sprout before all the nations.