Issue #8
Isaiah 60:19-61:11, International Children's
Bible.
The sun will no longer be your light during
the day. The light from the moon will no longer be your light. This
is because the Lord will be your light forever. Your God will be your
glory. Your sun will never set again. Your moon will never be dark again.
This is because the Lord will be your light forever.
And your time of sadness will end. All
of your people will do what is right. They will receive the earth forever.
They are the plant I have planted. I made them with my own hands to
show my greatness. The smallest family will grow to a thousand. The
least important of you will become a powerful nation.
I am the Lord, and when it is time, I
will make these things happen quickly.
The Lord God has put his Spirit in me.
This is because he has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken. He has sent
me to tell the captives they are free. He has sent me to tell the prisoners
that they are released. He has sent me to announce the time when the
Lord will show his kindness and the time when our God will punish evil
people. He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.
He has sent me to the sorrowing people
of Jerusalem. I will give them a crown to replace their ashes. I will
give them the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow. I will give them
clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will
be called Trees of Goodness. They will be like trees planted by the
Lord and will show his greatness. They will rebuild the old ruins. They
will build up the places destroyed long ago.
They will repair the ruined cities that
were destroyed for so long.
My people, foreigners will come to tend
your sheep. People from other countries will tend your vineyards. You
will be called priests of the Lord. You will be named the servants of
our God. You will have riches from all the nations on earth. And you
will take pride in them.
Instead of being ashamed, you will receive
twice as much wealth. Instead of being disgraced, you will be happy
because of what you receive. You will receive a double share of the
land. So your happiness will continue forever. The Lord says, "I
love justice. I hate stealing and everything that is wrong. I will be
fair and give my people what they should have. I will make an agreement
with them that will continue forever. Everyone in all nations will know
the children of my people.
And their children will be known among
the nations. Anyone who sees them will know that the Lord blesses them.
The Lord makes me very happy. All that I am rejoices in my God. The
Lord has covered me with clothes of salvation. He has covered me with
a coat of goodness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding.
I am like a bride dressed in jewels. The earth causes plants to grow.
And a garden causes the seeds planted there to grow.
In the same way the Lord God will make
grow what is right. He will make praise come from all the nations."
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