Isaiah

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;

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me. The LORD chose me and set me apart to bring good news to people who are humble and hurting. He sent me to heal those with broken hearts, to announce that captives are free, and that prison doors are open for those locked up.

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

2He sent me to announce the year when the LORD shows his favor, and the day when our God pays back wrong. He sent me to comfort everyone who is sad.

Note"The acceptable year of the LORD" means the year when the LORD welcomes people and shows kindness, not a year that people find acceptable.

3To 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.

3He sent me to care for the mourners in Zion. I will give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of grief, and clothes of praise instead of a heavy, hopeless spirit. Then people will call them strong trees that do what is right, trees the LORD himself planted, so that he is honored.

4And 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.

4They will rebuild the places that have been ruins for a long time. They will set up again what was knocked down. They will repair the wrecked cities that have lain empty for many generations.

5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

5Outsiders will stand and care for your flocks. People from other lands will plow your fields and tend your vines.

6But 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.

6But you will be called the priests of the LORD. People will call you the servants of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations, and their riches will be yours to be proud of.

Note"Boast yourselves" here is not bragging in a bad sense. It means the riches are theirs to be glad about and proud of.

7For 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.

7Instead of shame, my people will get twice as much. Instead of being disgraced, they will be glad about what they receive. So in their own land they will own a double share, and their joy will never end.

8For 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.

8For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate stealing and wrongdoing. I will faithfully pay my people what they are owed, and I will make an agreement with them that lasts forever.

NoteThe KJV says "I hate robbery for burnt offering," which sounds like it is only about stealing gifts brought to God. The Hebrew is more general: God hates stealing and wrongdoing of any kind.

9And 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.

9Their children will be known among the nations, and their families known among all peoples. Everyone who sees them will admit that these are the people the LORD has blessed.

10I 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.

10I will be very glad because of the LORD. My whole self will be joyful because of my God. He has dressed me in clothes of rescue and wrapped me in a robe of right living, the way a groom puts on his finest headdress and a bride puts on her jewels.

Note"Decketh himself with ornaments" describes a groom putting on a special headdress for his wedding, like a turban or crown.

11For 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.

11The ground makes plants push up, and a garden makes seeds sprout. In the same way the Lord GOD will make right living and praise spring up where all the nations can see.