The Year of the Lord's Favor and Joyful Restoration
Isaiah 61:1-11
1The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bear tidings to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to open release to those who are bound.2To proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.3To set for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a headdress instead of ashes, the oil of rejoicing instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; and they will be called terebinths of righteousness, a planting of the LORD, to display splendor.4They shall build the ancient desolations; they shall raise up the former ruins; they shall renew the ruined cities, the desolations of generation and generation.5Strangers shall stand and pasture your flocks, and the sons of foreigners shall be your farmers and your vinedressers.6But you shall be called priests of the LORD; you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.7Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion, and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.8For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery with burnt offering, and I will give their recompense in faithfulness, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.9Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall recognize them, that they are the seed the LORD has blessed.10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her articles.11For as the earth brings forth its branch, and as a garden causes its sowings to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.