Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon the Servant to preach good tidings to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to declare the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance. The LORD will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and opening of the prison to those who are bound, |
| 2 | To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; | to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God — to comfort all who mourn, |
| 3 | To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. | to grant to those who mourn in Zion — to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They shall be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. |
| 4 | And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. | They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations. They shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. |
| 5 | And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. | Strangers shall stand and tend Your flocks; foreigners shall be Your farmers and vinedressers. |
| 6 | But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. | But You shall be called the Priests of the LORD; You shall be spoken of as the Ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations and in their riches you shall boast. |
| 7 | For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. | Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot. Therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. |
| 8 | For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. | For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully give them their reward, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. |
| 9 | And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. | Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them shall acknowledge them — that they are a people the LORD has blessed. |
| 10 | I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. | I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall be joyful in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation; He has covered me with a robe of righteousness — as a bridegroom adorns Himself with a crown, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. |
| 11 | For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. | For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. |