Isaiah 61 YLT
Summary: The speaker (the Servant/prophetic figure) declares the Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon him, anointing him to preach good tidings to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, and announce "the acceptable year of the LORD" and the day of vengeance, comforting mourners with beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for heaviness (v. 1-3) — words Jesus later reads in the synagogue at Nazareth in the New Testament. Those comforted are called "trees of righteousness," and they will rebuild ancient ruins, while strangers will feed their flocks and foreigners work their fields, freeing Israel to serve as priests and ministers of God, enjoying the wealth of nations and everlasting joy instead of former shame. The LORD affirms He loves justice and hates robbery through a burnt offering, promising to faithfully reward His people's work and make an everlasting covenant with them, their descendants known among the nations as blessed. The chapter closes with the speaker rejoicing greatly in the LORD, clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness, like a bridegroom and bride adorned, and righteousness and praise springing forth before all nations.
1The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is on me, Because Jehovah did anoint me To proclaim tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind the broken of heart, To proclaim to captives liberty, And to bound ones an opening of bands.
2To proclaim the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah, And the day of vengeance of our God, To comfort all mourners.
3To appoint to mourners in Zion, To give to them beauty instead of ashes, The oil of joy instead of mourning, A covering of praise for a spirit of weakness, And He is calling to them, `Trees of righteousness, The planting of Jehovah--to be beautified.'
4And they have built the wastes of old, The desolations of the ancients they raise up, And they have renewed waste cities, The desolations of generation and generation.
5And strangers have stood and fed your flock, Sons of a foreigner are your husbandmen, And your vine-dressers.
6And ye are called `Priests of Jehovah,' `Ministers of our God,' is said of you, The strength of nations ye consume, And in their honour ye do boast yourselves.
7Instead of your shame and confusion, A second time they sing of their portion, Therefore in their land A second time do they take possession, Joy age-during is for them.
8For I am Jehovah, loving judgment, Hating plunder for a burnt-offering, And I have given their wage in truth, And a covenant age-during I make for them.
9And known among nations hath been their seed, And their offspring in the midst of the peoples, All their beholders acknowledge them, For they are a seed Jehovah hath blessed.
10I greatly rejoice in Jehovah, Joy doth my soul in my God, For He clothed me with garments of salvation, With a robe of righteousness covereth Me, As a bridegroom prepareth ornaments, And as a bride putteth on her jewels.
11For, as the earth bringeth forth her shoots, And as a garden causeth its sown things to shoot up, So the Lord Jehovah causeth righteousness and praise To shoot up before all the nations!
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