Isaiah 61

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 God gives me power; the Lord has chosen me to share good news with those who are humble. He has also sent me to comfort those who are sad, to tell captives they are free, and to open doors for those who are held back.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To announce the good time for the LORD and the day of His anger; to encourage everyone who is sad;

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 give hope to those who are sad in Zion, replacing their sadness with beauty, swapping their sorrow with joy, and exchanging their heavy hearts for praise; so they can be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD, bringing him glory.

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 will rebuild old ruins, restore past emptiness, and fix damaged cities, undoing the desolation of many years.

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Strangers will stand and take care of your animals, and people from other places will be your farmers and grape pickers.

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 will be called priests of God: people will call you God's servants. You will eat the wealth of non-believers and boast in their glory.

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.

For your embarrassment, you'll experience twice as much. And people will be happy about their share because of confusion. So in their country, they'll have twice as much. They'll have endless happiness.

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.

Because I am the Lord, I enjoy fairness and hate stealing. I want good offerings, not stolen things. I'll guide them in the right way and make a lasting agreement 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 they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

Their descendants will be famous among non-Jews, and their children among the people. Everyone who sees them will know they are blessed by the LORD.

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 be very happy because of the LORD. My soul will feel joyful in my God. He has given me the clothes of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness. Just like a groom puts on decorations and a bride wears her jewels, he adorns me beautifully.

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.

Just like how the earth makes a small plant grow and a garden helps seeds sprout, God will make goodness and praise grow for everyone to see among all the people.