Isaiah 61:1-9

Revised Standard Version

The Good News of Deliverance

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted;^[a]
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison^[b] 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 grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins,
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

⁵Aliens shall stand and feed your flocks,
    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
⁶but you shall be called the priests of the Lord,
    men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
    and in their riches you shall glory.
⁷Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion,
    instead of dishonor you^[c] shall rejoice in your^[d] lot;
therefore in your^[e] land you^[f] shall possess a double portion;
    yours^[g] shall be everlasting joy.

⁸For I the Lord love justice,
    I hate robbery and wrong;^[h]
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
    and their offspring in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
    that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 61:1 Or poor
Isaiah 61:1 Or the opening of the eyes: Heb the opening
Isaiah 61:7 Heb they
Isaiah 61:7 Heb their
Isaiah 61:7 Heb their
Isaiah 61:7 Heb they
Isaiah 61:7 Heb theirs
Isaiah 61:8 Or robbery with a burnt offering

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.