To grantthose who mourn[in] Zion,Givingthem a garlandinsteadof ashes,The oilof gladnessinsteadof mourning,The mantleof praiseinsteadof a spiritof fainting.So they will be calledoaksof righteousness,The plantingof the LORD,that He may be glorified.
Then Mordecaiwentout from the presenceof the kingin royalrobesof blueand white,with a largecrownof goldand a garmentof finelinenand purple;and the cityof Susashoutedand rejoiced.
because on those daysthe Jewsridthemselvesof their enemies,and [it was a] monthwhichwas turnedfor them from sorrowinto gladnessand from mourninginto a holiday;that they should makethem daysof feastingand rejoicingand sendingportions[of food] to oneanotherand giftsto the poor.
And winewhich makesman'sheartglad,So that he may make [his] faceglistenwith oil,And foodwhich sustainsman'sheart.
For the LORDtakespleasurein His people;He will beautifythe afflictedoneswith salvation.
You preparea tablebeforeme in the presenceof my enemies;You have anointedmy headwith oil;My cupoverflows.
You have turnedfor me my mourninginto dancing;You have loosedmy sackclothand girdedme with gladness,
That [my] soulmay singpraiseto You and not be silent.O LORDmy God,I will givethanksto You forever.
You have lovedrighteousnessand hatedwickedness;ThereforeGod,Your God,has anointedYou With the oilof joyaboveYour fellows.
Let your clothesbe whiteallthe time,and let not oilbe lackingon your head.
Then you will sayon that day,"I will givethanksto You, O LORD;For although You were angrywith me, Your angeris turnedaway,And You comfortme.
"Openthe gates,that the righteousnationmay enter,The one that remainsfaithful.
Shoutfor joy,O heavens,for the LORDhas done[it]! Shoutjoyfully,you lowerpartsof the earth;Breakforthinto a shoutof joy,you mountains,O forest,and everytreein it; For the LORDhas redeemedJacobAnd in IsraelHe showsforth His glory.
"I bringnearMy righteousness,it is not faroff; And My salvationwill not delay.And I will grantsalvationin Zion,[And] My gloryfor Israel.
Awake,awake,Clotheyourselfin your strength,O Zion;Clotheyourselfin your beautifulgarments,O Jerusalem,the holycity;For the uncircumcisedand the uncleanWill nolongercomeinto you.
I will rejoicegreatlyin the LORD,My soulwill exultin my God;For He has clothedme with garmentsof salvation,He has wrappedme with a robeof righteousness,As a bridegroomdeckshimself with a garland,And as a brideadornsherself with her jewels.
"Thenthe virginwill rejoicein the dance,And the youngmenand the old,together,For I will turntheir mourninginto joyAnd will comfortthem and givethem joyfor their sorrow.
"I will establishfor them a renownedplantingplace,and they will not againbe victimsof faminein the land,and they will not endurethe insultsof the nationsanymore.
Now when I had returned,behold,on the bankof the riverthere [were] verymanytreeson the onesideand on the other.
Then I said,"Let them puta cleanturbanon his head."So they puta cleanturbanon his headand clothedhim with garments,while the angelof the LORDwas standingby.
But He answeredand said,"EveryplantwhichMy heavenlyFatherdid not plantshall be uprooted.
"Let your lightshinebeforemenin such a waythat they may seeyour goodworks,and glorifyyour Fatherwho is in heaven.
"But the fathersaidto his slaves,'Quicklybringout the bestrobeand putit on him, and puta ringon his handand sandalson his feet;
"My Fatheris glorifiedby this,that you bearmuchfruit,and [so] proveto be My disciples.
"Truly,truly,I sayto you, that you will weepand lament,but the worldwill rejoice;you will grieve,but your griefwill be turnedinto joy.
For we are God'sfellow workers;you are God'sfield,God'sbuilding.
For you have been boughtwith a price:thereforeglorifyGodin your body.
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
whenHe comesto be glorifiedin His saintson that day,and to be marveledat amongallwho have believed--for our testimonyto you was believed.
"YOU HAVE LOVEDRIGHTEOUSNESSAND HATEDLAWLESSNESS;THEREFOREGOD,YOUR GOD,HAS ANOINTEDYOU WITH THE OILOF GLADNESSABOVEYOUR COMPANIONS."
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
