To proclaimthe favorableyearof the LORDAnd the dayof vengeanceof our God;To comfortallwho mourn,
Thereforethe LordGODof hosts,The MightyOneof Israel,declares,"Ah,I will be relievedof My adversariesAnd avengeMyself on My foes.
Wail,for the dayof the LORDis near!It will comeas destructionfrom the Almighty.
For the LORDof hostswill have a day[of reckoning] Againsteveryonewhois proudand loftyAnd againsteveryonewho is liftedup, That he may be abased.
He will swallowup deathfor alltime,And the LordGODwill wipetearsawayfrom allfaces,And He will removethe reproachof His peoplefrom allthe earth;For the LORDhas spoken.
For the LORD'Sindignationis againstallthe nations,And [His] wrathagainstalltheir armies;He has utterlydestroyedthem, He has giventhem over to slaughter.
For the LORDhas a dayof vengeance,A yearof recompensefor the causeof Zion.
Sayto those with anxiousheart,"Takecourage,fearnot. Behold,your Godwill come[with] vengeance;The recompenseof Godwill come,But He will saveyou."
"Comfort,O comfortMy people,"saysyour God.
Thussaysthe LORD,"In a favorabletimeI have answeredYou, And in a dayof salvationI have helpedYou; And I will keepYou and giveYou for a covenantof the people,To restorethe land,to make [them] inheritthe desolateheritages;
"I, even I, am He who comfortsyou. Whoare you that you are afraidof manwho diesAnd of the sonof manwho is madelike grass,
"I have seenhis ways,but I will healhim; I will leadhim and restorecomfortto him and to his mourners,
"Is it a fastlike thiswhich I choose,a dayfor a manto humblehimself?Is it for bowingone's headlike a reedAnd for spreadingout sackclothand ashesas a bed? Will you callthisa fast,even an acceptabledayto the LORD?
"Foreignerswill buildup your walls,And their kingswill ministerto you; For in My wrathI struckyou, And in My favorI have hadcompassionon you.
Then you will see[this], and your heartwill be glad,And your boneswill flourishlike the newgrass;And the handof the LORDwill be madeknownto His servants,But He will be indignanttowardHis enemies.
"Thenthe virginwill rejoicein the dance,And the youngmenand the old,together,For I will turntheir mourninginto joyAnd will comfortthem and givethem joyfor their sorrow.
For that daybelongs to the LordGODof hosts,A dayof vengeance,so as to avengeHimself on His foes;And the swordwill devourand be satiatedAnd drinkits fillof their blood;For there will be a slaughterfor the LordGODof hosts,In the landof the northby the riverEuphrates.
On the otherhandI am filledwith power--With the Spiritof the LORD--And with justiceand courageTo makeknownto Jacobhis rebelliousact,Even to Israelhis sin.
"Blessedare thosewho mourn,for they shall be comforted.
TO PROCLAIMTHE FAVORABLEYEAROF THE LORD."
"Blessed[are] you who hungernow,for you shall be satisfied.Blessed[are] you who weepnow,for you shall laugh.
for He says,"AT THE ACCEPTABLETIMEI LISTENEDTO YOU, AND ON THE DAYOF SALVATIONI HELPEDYOU." Behold,nowis "THE ACCEPTABLETIME,"behold,nowis "THE DAYOF SALVATION"--
hinderingus from speakingto the Gentilessothat they may be saved;with the result that they alwaysfill up the measureof their sins.But wrathhas comeupon them to the utmost.
