Isaiah 60

1For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.

2Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.

3All nations will come to your light;mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

4“Look and see, for everyone is coming home!Your sons are coming from distant lands;your little daughters will be carried home.

5Your eyes will shine,and your heart will thrill with joy,for merchants from around the world will come to you.They will bring you the wealth of many lands.

6Vast caravans of camels will converge on you,the camels of Midian and Ephah.The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincenseand will come worshiping the Lor.

7The flocks of Kedar will be given to you,and the rams of Nebaioth will be brought for my altars.I will accept their offerings,and I will make my Temple glorious.

8“And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel,like doves to their nests?

9They are ships from the ends of the earth,from lands that trust in me,led by the great ships of Tarshish.They are bringing the people of Israel home from far away,carrying their silver and gold.They will honor the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel,for he has filled you with splendor.

10“Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns.and their kings will serve you.For though I have destroyed you in my anger,I will now have mercy on you through my grace.

11Your gates will stay open around the clockto receive the wealth of many lands.The kings of the world will be led as captivesina victory procession.

12For the nations that refuse to serve youwill be destroyed.

13“The glory of Lebanon will be yours—the forests of cypress, fir, and pine—to beautify my sanctuary.My Temple will be glorious!

14The descendants of your tormentorswill come and bow before you.Those who despised youwill kiss your feet.They will call you the City of the LORD,and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.¥$ “Though you were once despised and hated,with no one traveling through you,I will make you beautiful forever,a joy to all generations.

16Powerful kings and mighty nationswill satisfy your every need,as though you were a childnursing at the breast of a queen.You will know at last that I, the LORD,am your Savior and your Redeemer,the Mighty One of Israel.*

17T will exchange your bronze for gold,your iron for silver,your wood for bronze,and your stones for iron.Iwill make peace your leaderand righteousness your ruler.

18Violence will disappear from your land;the desolation and destruction of war will end.Salvation will surround you like city walls,and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.18 “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,nor the moon to give its light by night,

for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light,and your God will be your glory.

20Your sun will never set;your moon will not go down.For the LORD will be your everlasting light.Your days of mourning will come to an end.

21All your people will be righteous.They will possess their land forever,for I will plant them there with my own handsin order to bring myself glory.

22The smallest family will become a thousand people,and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.”

Good News for the Oppressed

61 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,for the LORD has anointed meto bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to comfort the brokenheartedand to proclaim that captives will be released