Exaltation of the Afflicted
1 The Spirit of the Lord Godis upon me,
Because the Lordhas anointedandcommissioned me
To bring good news to the humbleandafflicted;
He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted,
To proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives
And freedom to prisoners,
2 To proclaimthe favorable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeanceandretribution of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant to those who mourn in Zionthe following:
To give them aturban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning],
The oil of joy instead of mourning,
The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God],
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise upandrestore the former desolations;
And they will renew the ruined cities,
The desolations (deserted settlements) of many generations.
5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6 But you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
People will speak of you as the ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And you will boast of their riches.
7 Instead of your [former] shameyou will haveadoubleportion;
Andinstead ofhumiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited];
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery witha burnt offering.
And I will faithfully reward them,
And make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants among the peoples.
All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognizeandacknowledge them
That they are the people whom the Lordhas blessed.
10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has covered me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom puts on aturban,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord Godwill [most certainly] cause righteousnessandjustice and praise
To spring up before all the nations [through the power of His word].