The Acceptable Year of the LORD

1The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3To provide for them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5And foreigners shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6But you shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves.

7Instead of your shame you shall have double; and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery with a burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9And their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the descendants whom the LORD has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.