The Spirit of the LordGODisupon me; because theLORDhath 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 tothem that arebound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of theLORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
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 theLORD, that he might be glorified.
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.
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alienshall beyour plowmen and your vinedressers.
But ye shall be named the Priests of theLORD:menshall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
For your shameye shall havedouble; andforconfusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
For I theLORDlove judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that theyarethe seedwhichtheLORDhath blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in theLORD, 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 deckethhimselfwith ornaments, and as a bride adornethherselfwith her jewels.
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 LordGODwill cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.