The Good News of Salvation

1 “TheSpirit of the LordGodisupon Me,

Because theLordhas anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Meto heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaimliberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison tothosewhoarebound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of theLord,

Andthe day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of theLord,that He may be glorified.”

4 And they shallrebuild the old ruins,

They shall raise up the former desolations,

And they shall repair the ruined cities,

The desolations of many generations.

5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

And the sons of the foreigner

Shallbeyour plowmen and your vinedressers.

6 But you shall be named the priests of theLord,

They shall call you the servants of our God.

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,

And in their glory you shall boast.

7 Instead of your shameyoushallhavedoublehonor,

Andinsteadofconfusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

Therefore in their land they shall possess double;

Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

8 “ForI, theLord, love justice;

I hate robbery for burnt offering;

I will direct their work in truth,

And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,

And their offspring among the people.

All who see them shall acknowledge them,

That theyarethe posteritywhomtheLordhas blessed.”

10 I will greatly rejoice in theLord,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

ForHe has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom deckshimselfwith ornaments,

And as a bride adornsherselfwith her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the LordGodwill causerighteousness andpraise to spring forth before all the nations.