Exaltation of the Afflicted

1The Spirit of Lord Yahweh is upon me

Because Yahweh has anointed me

To bring good news to the [†]afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim release to captives

And [†]freedom to prisoners,

2To proclaim the favorable year of Yahweh

And the day of vengeance of our God,

To comfort all who mourn,

3To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a headdress instead of ashes,

The oil of rejoicing instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called [†]oaks of righteousness,

The planting of Yahweh, that He may show forth His beautiful glory.

4Then they will rebuild the ancient waste places;

They will raise up the former desolations;

And they will make new the ruined cities,

The desolations from generation to generation.

5Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,

And [†]foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

6But you will be called the priests of Yahweh;

You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.

You will eat the wealth of nations,

And in their glories you will boast.

7Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,

And instead of dishonor they will shout for joy over their portion.

Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land;

Everlasting gladness will be theirs.

8For I, Yahweh, love justice,

I hate robbery [†]in the burnt offering;

And in truth I will give them their recompense

And cut an everlasting covenant with them.

9Then their seed will be known among the nations,

And their offspring in the midst of the peoples.

All who see them will recognize them

Because they are the seed whom Yahweh has blessed.

10I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh;

My soul will rejoice 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 headdress,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11For as the earth brings forth its branches,

And as a garden causes the things sown in it to branch out,

So Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise

To branch out before all the nations.