The proclamation of Zion’s redemption

61 The spirit of the Lord the Lord is upon me,

because I have been by the Lord anointed:

he has sent to me to bring glad news to the wretched,

to bind up hearts that are broken,

to proclaim release unto captives,

and freedom to men in bonds,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,

and the day of our God’s revenge,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 to give them a garland for ashes,

the oil of joy for the garment of mourning,

a song of praise for a spirit bedimmed;

and oak-trees of righteousness they will be called,

the plants of the Lord reflecting his glory.

4 They will build the ancient ruins,

restoring the places long desolate,

renewing the wasted cities,

that age upon age have been desolate.

5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,

and foreigners will be your ploughmen and vine-dressers:

6 but you will be called the priests of the Lord,

the name you will bear will be ministers of our God.

The wealth of the nations will be yours to enjoy,

you will deck yourselves with their splendour.

7 A twofold measure of shame has been theirs,

and theirs was a lot of contempt and insult,

so now in their own land their share will be doubled,

and theirs will be joy everlasting.

8 For I am the Lord, the lover of justice,

iniquitous plunder is hateful to me;

faithfully then their reward I will give them,

and enter with them in a bond everlasting.

9 Their sons will be famous all over the world,

and their offspring among the nations;

then those who behold them will all acknowledge

that this is the race that the Lord has blessed.

10 For as surely as earth puts forth her shoots,

and the seed springs up that is sown in a garden,

the Lord the Lord will make victory spring,

and renown, before all the world.

11 ‘I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul will exult in my God,

who has clothed me in robes of salvation,

and decked me with mantle of victory,

like bridegroom who fixes his turban

or bride who adorns herself with her jewels.’

62 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silence,

for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,

till her victory issue forth clear as the light,

her deliverance bright as a burning torch,

2 so that nations will see you are victor indeed,

and kings, every one, will behold your glory.

But you will be called by a name that is new,

which the Lord’s mouth will determine.

3 Fair crown you will be in the hand of the Lord,

a diadem royal in the hand of your God.

4 No more will your name be forsaken,

nor your land called desolate more:

but your name will be called my delight,

and your land my wedded wife;

for the Lord delights in you,

and your land will indeed be wedded.

5 For even as a youth weds a maiden,

so your builder will wed with you;

and as bridegroom rejoices in bride,

so your God will rejoice over you.

6 Over your walls, Jerusalem,

I have appointed watchmen;

all the day and night

they never hold their peace.

You whose task it is

to keep the Lord in mind,

7 take to yourselves no rest,

and give no rest unto him,

until that he establish,

until that he make Jerusalem

renowned in the earth.

8 By his right hand the Lord has sworn,

and by his mighty arm:

‘Never again will I suffer

your foes to devour your corn;

never again will strangers

drink the wine for which you have toiled.

9 But those who have garnered will eat it,

with songs of praise to the Lord;

and those who have gathered will drink it

within my holy courts.’

10 Pass you, pass through the gates,

prepare you a way for the people;

cast you, cast up the highway,

and gather out the stones,

and raise for the peoples a banner.

11 Behold, to the ends of the earth

has the Lord made proclamation:

say to the daughter of Zion,

behold, your salvation is come.

Behold his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him,

12 they will call them the holy people,

the redeemed of the Lord,

and you will be called frequented,

the city unforsaken.