Good news for oppressed people

1The Spirit of Yahweh our Lord is on me; he has appointed [MTY] me to bring good news to those who are oppressed, to comfort those who are discouraged, to free all those who are as though they are chained/tied [DOU] by the wrong things that they continually do.

2He has sent me to tell those who mourn about the members of their families who died (OR, who are still in Babylonia) that now is the time when Yahweh will act kindly toward his people; now is the time when our God will ◄get revenge on/punish► their enemies.

3To all those in Jerusalem who mourn,
he will give flower necklaces to wear; instead of ashes that they put on their heads to show that they are sad; he will cause them to rejoice [MTY] instead of being sad; he will enable them to be [MET] happy instead of being discouraged. They will be called “people who continually do what is right, people who are like tall/strong oak trees that Yahweh has planted” to show others that he is very great.

4Those who return from Babylon will rebuild the cities that the soldiers from Babylon tore down. Even though those cities have been destroyed and abandoned for many years, they will be restored/rebuilt.

5Foreigners will be the ones who will take care of your flocks of sheep and goats, and plow your fields and take care of your grapevines.

6But you are the ones who will be like the priests to serve Yahweh, to work for God. You will enjoy valuable goods that are brought from other nations, and you will be happy that those things have become yours.

7Previously you were shamed and disgraced, but now you will have great blessings; previously your enemies humbled you, but now you will have many good things; you will be happy because of being in your land again, and you will rejoice forever.

8“I, Yahweh, am very pleased with those/judges who decide matters fairly; I hate those who illegally take things from other people. I will surely repay my people ◄for/because of► all that they have suffered in the past. And I will make an everlasting agreement with them.

9Their descendants will be honored by people of other nations [DOU]. Everyone who sees them will know that they are a nation that I, Yahweh, have blessed.”

10I greatly rejoice because of what Yahweh has done! I am happy, because he has saved me and declared that I am righteous; those blessings are like [MET] a robe that he has put on me. I am as happy as [SIM] a bridegroom in his wedding suit, or a bride wearing jewels.

11Just as seeds sown in a garden sprout from the soil and grow [DOU], Yahweh our God will cause people of all nations to act righteously, with the result that they will praise him for doing that.