The Year of the LORD’s Favor

¹ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me,

because the LORD has anointed Me

to preach good news to the poor.^*

He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives^*

and freedom to the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of our God’s vengeance,

to comfort all who mourn,

³ to console the mourners in Zion —

to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,

the oil^* of joy for mourning,^*

and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,^*

the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins;

they will restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities,

the desolations of many generations.

⁵ Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,

and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

⁶ But you will be called the priests of the LORD;

they will speak of you as ministers of our God;

you will feed on the wealth of nations,

and you will boast in their riches.

⁷ Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion,

and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share;

and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,

and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ For I, the LORD, love justice;

I hate robbery and iniquity;

in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense

and make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations,

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

¹⁰ I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,

my soul will exult in my God;

for He has clothed me with garments of salvation

and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom wears a priestly^* headdress,

as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its growth,

and as a garden enables seed to spring up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations.