Isaiah 61

Messiah’s Jubilee

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,  * 61:1–2 Is 11:2; 42:1; 48:16; Lk 4:18–19

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.  * 61:1 Lk 7:22

He has sent me to heal  * 61:1 Lit bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and freedom to the prisoners;  * 61:1 Is 42:7; 49:9

2 to proclaim the year of the  Lord’s favor,  * 61:2 Is 49:8

and the day of our God’s vengeance;  * 61:2 Is 2:12; 13:6; 34:2,8

to comfort  * 61:2 Is 40:1 all who mourn,

3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion;

to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

festive oil instead of mourning,  * 61:3 Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9

and splendid clothes instead of despair.  * 61:3 Lit a dim spirit

And they will be called righteous trees,

planted by the  Lord

to glorify him.  * 61:3 Is 60:21; Jr 17:7–8

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins;  * 61:4 Is 49:8; 58:12; Ezk 36:33; Am 9:14

they will restore the former devastations;

they will renew the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,

and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.  * 61:5 Is 14:2; 60:10

6 But you will be called the  Lord’s priests;  * 61:6 Ex 19:6; Is 66:21; 1Pt 2:5,9

they will speak of you as ministers of our God;

you will eat the wealth of the nations,

and you will boast in their riches.

7 In place of your shame, you will have a double portion;  * 61:7 Is 54:4

in place of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share.

So they will possess double in their land,  * 61:7 Is 40:2; Zch 9:12

and eternal joy will be theirs.

8 For I the Lord love justice;  * 61:8 Ps 11:7; Is 59:15

I hate robbery and injustice;  * 61:8 Some Hb mss, DSS, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; other Hb mss read robbery with a burnt offering

I will faithfully reward my people

and make a permanent covenant  * 61:8 Is 24:5; 55:3 with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,

and their posterity among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize

that they are a people the  Lord has blessed.

10 I rejoice greatly in the  Lord,

I exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation

and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,  * 61:10 Is 49:18; 52:1; 59:17

as a groom wears a turban

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  * 61:10 Rv 21:2

11 For as the earth produces its growth,

and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations.  * 61:11 Is 45:23–24; 60:18,21