Isaiah 61
What Happens in This Chapter
A speaker says God's Spirit is on him, and that God sent him to bring good news to the poor, heal broken hearts, free prisoners, and comfort those who mourn. He says God will trade their ashes and sadness for beauty and joy, and that they will rebuild cities that lay in ruins for many generations. God says he loves justice, hates robbery and wrongdoing, and will make a lasting agreement with his people. The chapter ends with a song of thanks, saying God makes right living and praise grow the way a garden makes seeds come up.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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 poured oil on my head to choose me for this work. He sent me to bring good news to people who are poor and humble. He sent me to care for people whose hearts are broken. He sent me to tell prisoners they can go free.
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 helps his people. He sent me to announce the day when our God pays back wrong. He sent me to comfort everyone who is sad.
"The acceptable year of the LORD" means the year God has picked to help his people. "Acceptable" here means pleasing to God, not just allowed.
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.
3I am to care for the sad people in Zion, God's city. I will give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes. I will give them happy oil instead of crying. I will give them a song of praise instead of a heavy heart. Then people will call them strong trees that God himself planted. They will show how great God is.
Long ago, people put ashes on their heads to show they were very sad. When they were happy, they rubbed sweet-smelling oil on their skin.
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 build up the old ruins again. They will fix places that were knocked down long ago. They will repair the empty cities that stayed broken for many years.
5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
5People from other lands will stand and feed your sheep. They will plow your fields and take care of your grapevines.
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 servants who work for our God. You will eat the good things that other nations have. Their riches will be yours to be 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, you will get twice as much good. Instead of being put down, you will be glad with your share. In your own land you will own a double portion. Your joy will go on forever.
A double portion means twice as much as a normal share.
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.
8God says, "I love what is fair. I hate stealing and doing wrong. I keep my word, so I will pay my people back for their work. I will make an agreement with them that lasts forever."
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 all the nations. Everyone who sees them will understand the truth about them. They will say, "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 am so happy because of the LORD. Deep inside, my heart sings to my God. He has dressed me in clothes that show he saved me. He has wrapped me in a coat that shows I am right with him. I look like a man dressed up for his wedding day. I look like a bride wearing her best jewelry.
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.
11Seeds in the ground push up and start to grow. A garden makes its plants come up. In the same way, the Lord God will make right living and praise grow. All the nations will see it happen.
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