The Year of the Lord's Favor
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1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has 2anointed me to bring good news to the poor;a he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and 3the opening of the prison to those who are bound;b
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4to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, 5and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
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to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- 6to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, 7the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; 8that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, 9that he may be glorified.c
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10They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
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11Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
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12but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; 13you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
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14Instead 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; they shall have everlasting joy.
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15For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong;d 16I will faithfully give them their recompense, 17and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
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Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.
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18I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, 19for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself 20like a priest with a beautiful headdress, 21and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
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For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause 22righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)