61 1 He prophesieth that Christ shall be anointed, and sent to preach. 10 The joy of the faithful.

The (A)Spirit of the Lord God is [a]upon me, therefore hath the Lord anointed me: he hath sent me to preach good tidings unto the poor, to bind up the [b]broken hearted, to preach liberty to the [c]captives, and to them that are bound, the opening of the prison,

To preach the [d]acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of [e]vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn,

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, and to give unto them beauty for [f]ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of gladness for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called [g]trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

And they shall build the old waste places, and raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the cities that were desolate and waste through many [h]generations.

And the strangers shall [i]stand and feed your sheep, and the sons of the strangers shall be your plowmen, and dressers of your vines.

But ye shall be named the [j]Priests of the Lord, and men shall say unto you, The ministers of our God: Ye shall eat the [k]riches of the Gentiles, and shall be exalted with their glory.

For your shame you shall receive [l]double, and for confusion, [m]they shall rejoice in [n]their portion: for in their land they shall possess the [o]double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

For I the Lord love judgment, and hate [p]robbery for burnt offering, and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

And [q]their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their buds among the people. All that see them, shall know them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

10 [r]I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness: he hath decked me like a bridegroom, and as a bride attireth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth to grow that which is sown in it: so the Lord God will cause righteousness to grow, and praise before all the heathen.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:1 Thus appertaineth to all the Prophets and ministers of God, but chiefly to Christ, of whose abundant graces everyone receiveth according as it pleaseth him to distribute.
  2. Isaiah 61:1 To them that are lively touched with the feeling of their sins.
  3. Isaiah 61:1 Which are in the bondage of sin.
  4. Isaiah 61:2 The time when it pleased God to show his good favor to man, which S. Paul calleth the fullness of time, Gal. 4:4.
  5. Isaiah 61:2 For when God delivereth his Church, he punisheth his enemies.
  6. Isaiah 61:3 Which was the sign of mourning.
  7. Isaiah 61:3 Trees that bring forth good fruits, as Matt. 3:8.
  8. Isaiah 61:4 That is, for a long time.
  9. Isaiah 61:5 They shall be ready to serve you in all your necessities.
  10. Isaiah 61:6 This is accomplished in the time of Christ, by whom all the faithful are made Priests and Kings, 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6 and 5:10.
  11. Isaiah 61:6 Read Isa. 6:11, 16.
  12. Isaiah 61:7 Abundant recompense, as this word is used, Isa. 40:2.
  13. Isaiah 61:7 That is, the Jews.
  14. Isaiah 61:7 To wit, of the Gentiles.
  15. Isaiah 61:7 Whereas the Gentiles had dominion over the Jews in times past, now they shall have double authority over them and possess twice so much.
  16. Isaiah 61:8 I will not receive their offerings which are extortioners, deceivers, hypocrites, or that deprive me of my glory.
  17. Isaiah 61:9 That is, of the Church.
  18. Isaiah 61:10 He showeth what shall be the affection, when they feel this their deliverance.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit(A) of the Sovereign Lord(B) is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed(C) me
    to proclaim good news(D) to the poor.(E)
He has sent me to bind up(F) the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom(G) for the captives(H)
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor(I)
    and the day of vengeance(J) of our God,
to comfort(K) all who mourn,(L)
    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown(M) of beauty
    instead of ashes,(N)
the oil(O) of joy
    instead of mourning,(P)
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting(Q) of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.(R)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins(S)
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
Strangers(T) will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests(U) of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth(V) of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame(W)
    you will receive a double(X) portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit(Y) a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy(Z) will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;(AA)
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant(AB) with them.
Their descendants(AC) will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”(AD)

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices(AE) in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,(AF)
as a bridegroom adorns his head(AG) like a priest,
    and as a bride(AH) adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden(AI) causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness(AJ)
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind