Faith & Freedom

(NIV84)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor.

for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated;

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

that have been devastated for generations.

5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;

5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of their shame

7 Instead of their shame

my people will receive a double portion,

my people will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

and instead of disgrace

they will rejoice in their inheritance;

they will rejoice in their inheritance;

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

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

and everlasting joy will be theirs.

and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;

I hate robbery and iniquity.

I hate robbery and iniquity.

In my faithfulness I will reward them

In my faithfulness I will reward them

and make an everlasting covenant with them.

and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations

and their offspring among the peoples.

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

All who see them will acknowledge

that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

spring up before all nations.