Exaltation of the Afflicted

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
            Because the LORD has anointed me
            To bring good news to the afflicted;
            He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
            To proclaim liberty to captives
            And freedom to prisoners;

      2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
            And the day of vengeance of our God;
            To comfort all who mourn,

      3To grant those who mourn in Zion,
            Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
            The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
            The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
            So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
            The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

      4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
            They will raise up the former devastations;
            And they will repair the ruined cities,
            The desolations of many generations.

      5Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
            And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

      6But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
            You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
            You will eat the wealth of nations,
            And in their riches you will boast.

      7Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
            And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
            Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
            Everlasting joy will be theirs.

      8For I, the LORD, love justice,
            I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
            And I will faithfully give them their recompense
            And make an everlasting covenant with them.

      9Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
            And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
            All who see them will recognize them
            Because they are the offspring whom the LORD has blessed.

      10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
            My soul will exult in my God;
            For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
            He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
            As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
            And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

      11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
            And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
            So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
            To spring up before all the nations.