Hoofstuk 11 “Die Gevaar van ‘n Armoede Mentaliteit”

“For the mouth speaks out of that
which fills the heart.”
—Matthew 12:34

“Waar die hart van vol is,
loop die mond van oor.”
—Matteus 12:34

 

So many women, men, and especially those who are the heads of their households fall into what I describe as the “Poverty Mentality.” Large families are plagued with it. The Poverty Mentality is basically when the phrase, “I can’t afford it” takes over a person’s vocabulary and soon enters their heart.

So baie vroue, mans en veral diegene wat die hoof van hul huishoudings is, val in wat ek beskryf as die “Armoede Mentaliteit.” Groot gesinne word daarmee geteister. Die Armoede Mentaliteir is basies wanneer die frase: “Ek kan dit nie bekostig nie” ‘n persoon se woordeskat oorneem en gou hul harte ingaan.

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).

“Waar die hart van vol is, loop die mond van oor” (Matteus 12:34).

It is so easy to fall into this mindset and mental stronghold, especially when you pay the bills and begin to take over the finances, or are now trying to “get by” with one income instead of two. It can hit when you look at what your divorce papers say you are going to get or what you are going to have to pay, or like me, when you total up your family’s debt hoping to consolidate your loans you didn’t apply for but are responsible to pay.

Dit is so maklik om in hierdie ingesteldheid en geestelike vesting te val, veral wanneer jy die rekeninge betaal en begin om die finansies oor te neem, of probeer om nou met een salaris in plaas van twee “uit te kom.” Dit kan tref wanneer jy kyk wat jou egskeidingsdokumente sê jy gaan kry of wat jy moet betaal, of wanneer jy, soos ek, jou gesin se skuld bymekaar tel in die hoop om jou lenings te konsolideer waarvoor jy nie aansoek gedoen het nie, maar vir die betalings verantwoordelik is.

Yet this is a trap from the enemy because it is contrary to Scripture and who our Father is. I am not trying to be “spiritually weird” here and encourage us to all go out and buy whatever we want because our spiritual “Sugar Daddy” will pay for it! But let’s not be like the world, and worry about how we will make it financially, when the Bible promises that He will take care of all not just some of our needs!

Tog is dit ‘n strik van die vyand, want dit is in stryd met die Bybel en wie ons Vader is. Ek probeer nie “geestelik snaaks” wees en almal van ons aanmoedig om uit te gaan en alles te koop wat ons wil hê nie, want ons geestelike “Ryk Man” sal daarvoor betaal! Maar laat ons nie soos die wêreld wees en bekommerd wees oor hoe ons dit finansieel sal maak nie, wanneer die Bybel belowe dat Hy in al ons behoeftes sal voorsien, nie net sommiges nie!

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

“En my God sal in elke behoefte van julle ryklik voorsien volgens sy wonderbaarlike rykdom in Christus Jesus” (Filippense 4:19).

If we can believe God for our salvation, then why not believe God for our financial needs, wants, and for the blessings He longs to give us?

As ons God kan glo vir ons verlossing, waarom dan nie God glo vir ons finansiële behoeftes, begeertes en die seëninge wat Hy hunker om vir ons te gee nie?

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

“Tog is die Here gretig om julle genadig te wees en wil Hy Hom oor julle ontferm: Die Here is 'n God wat reg laat geskied, en dit gaan goed met elkeen wat op Hom vertrou” (Jesaja 30:18).

God says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). So we keep telling everyone, “We can’t afford it” or “I don’t know how we are going to make it,” it is like a slap in the face to our heavenly Father!

God sê sonder geloof is dit onmoontlik om Hom te behaag (Hebreërs 11:6). So, ons hou aan om vir almal te vertel: “Ons kan dit nie bekostig nie” of “ek weet nie hoe ons dit gaan maak nie,” dit is soos ‘n klap in die gesig van ons hemelse Vader!

How would you feel if your son or daughter went around telling friends or went to school telling everyone that they didn’t know if they would be able to have a lunch the next week? Or saying you couldn’t afford buy them the shoes that they needed? How would you feel if they shamed you like that? And what would people think of you, when you of course, would be able to provide for your own child?

Hoe sou jy voel as jou seun of dogter rondgaan en vriende vertel, of skool toe gaan en almal vertel dat hulle nie weet of hulle die volgende week middagete sal kan eet nie? Of as sê jy kan nie bekostig om vir hulle die skoene te koop wat hul nodig het nie? Hoe sou jy voel as hulle jou so in die skande steek? En wat sal mense van jou dink as jy natuurlik vir jou eie kind kan sorg?

It is the same way when you shame your heavenly Father and/or Husband. When you shame Him by telling people that though you are a child of God (that you profess to everyone) or the bride of the Lord of Hosts, but, He is unable or unwilling to provide for what you need; that you can barely make it and you don’t know where you will get enough money. This has to be a painful slap in the face to the One whom you profess to love and trust.

Dit is net so as jy jou hemelse Vader en/of Man in die skande steek. Wanneer jy Hom in die skande steek deur vir mense te sê dat al is jy ‘n kind van God (wat jy aan almal bely), of die bruid van die Here van die Leërskare, maar, Hy kan nie of is onwillig om in jou behoeftes te voorsien; dat jy dit skaars kan maak en jy weet nie waar jy genoeg geld gaan kry nie. Dit moet ‘n seer klap in die gesig van die Een wees wat jy bely om lief te hê en te vertrou.

And maybe you don’t go around telling everyone, you keep it to yourself, but your appearance shouts it to everyone! Your clothes are old because you haven’t bought any new clothes in years. You let the roots grow out in your hair, or don’t have your hair cut often enough. You’re car is full of trash and the outside is dirty. You let your appearance go, since you have told yourself you don’t have enough money for shoes for your children. You are the picture of poverty, when you have a heavenly Father and/or Husband who has all that you need and wants to provide if you would just trust Him!

En miskien loop jy nie rond en vertel almal nie, jy hou dit vir jouself, maar jou voorkoms skree dit vir almal! Jou klere is oud omdat jy in jare geen nuwe klere gekoop het nie. Jy laat jou hare uitgroei, of laat nie jou hare gereeld sny nie. Jou kar is vol gemors en die buitekant is vuil. Jy verwaarloos jou voorkoms, want jy het vir jouself gesê jy het nie genoeg geld vir skoene vir jou kinders nie. Jy is die prentjie van armoede, wanneer jy ‘n hemelse Vader en/of Man het wat alles het wat jy nodig het en wil voorsien, as jy Hom net sal vertrou!

You need to take care of what you have (including your appearance): your home, your lawn, your car (inside and out), and your children. And when you have a need, or even a want, simply ask God the Father or your Heavenly Husband for it. He is just waiting for you to ask! He wants to bless you with good things, as long as you take care of what He gives you and He only asks that you give Him all the praise, by telling others how awesome He is! If do that, soon you will find people you know will also so want a relationship with Him too! But most Christians tend forget Who it was who gave the blessing to them since they focus on earning money rather than just allowing God to do what He said He would do!

Jy moet dit wat jy het oppas (insluitend jou voorkoms): jou huis, jou grasperk, jou kar (binne en buite), en jou kinders. En wanneer jy iets nodig het, of selfs iets wil hê, vra eenvoudig God die Vader of jou Hemelse Man daarvoor. Hy wag net vir jou om te vra! Hy wil jou met goeie dinge seën, solank jy dit wat Hy vir jou gegee het, oppas

“. . . you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18)

“. . . en jy in jou hart dink: My krag en die sterkte van my hand het vir my hierdie rykdom verwerwe. Maar dink aan die Here jou God, dat dit Hy is wat jou krag gee om rykdom te verwerwe, dat Hy sy verbond kan bevestig wat Hy aan jou vaders met 'n eed beloof het, soos dit vandag is.” (Deutronomium 8:17-18)

If a person believes they are poor, their countenance, appearance, and what they say will reflect poverty. Yet, if a person believes they are rich (according to His riches in Christ Jesus) then their countenance, appearance, and everything that they say will radiate wealth!

As ‘n persoon glo dat hulle arm is, sal hul gesig, voorkoms en wat hulle sê armoede reflekteer. Tog, as ‘n persoon glo dat hulle ryk is (na sy rykdom in heerlikheid deur Christus Jesus), sal hul gesig, voorkoms en alles wat hul sê, rykdom uitstraal!

My ex-husband used to get so irritated because I always told everyone that we were “rich!” It all began years ago when I saw a very tall black man trying to sell some pecans in a fast food hamburger restaurant so he could buy something to eat. When they said at the counter, no they weren’t interested, I went up to the counter and asked if I could buy him a meal. He said, “No, that’s okay” after looking at me then looking down at the floor. So out of my mouth comes, “Well, my husband is very rich, and he would want me to buy you something to eat.” So I paid for it and sat down. (Saying we were rich was not a lie; in comparison to what this man had—we were very rich!)

My eksman het so geïrriteerd geraak omdat ek altyd vir almal gesê het dat ons “ryk” was. Dit het alles jare gelede begin toe ek ‘n baie lang swart man gesien het wat probeer het om ‘n paar pekanneute in ‘n kitskos hamburger restaurant te verkoop, sodat hy iets kon koop om te eet. Toe hulle by die toonbank sê dat hulle nie belangstel nie, het ek na die toonbank gegaan en gevra of ek vir hom ‘n maaltyd kon koop. Hy het gesê: “Nee, dis okei” nadat hy na my gekyk het en toe na die vloer. So uit my mond het toe gekom: “Wel, my man is baie ryk en hy sal wil hê dat ek vir jou iets koop om te eet.” So ek het daarvoor betaal en gaan sit. (Om te sê dat ons ryk was, was nie ‘n leuen nie; in vergelyking met wat hierdie man gehad het—was ons baie ryk!)

When the man got his tray of food, he walked up and asked if he could sit with me. I could smell that he reeked of alcohol and urine, but I said, “Please do.” Without looking up he asked me, “Why did you do that? Why did you buy me this food?” I told him that God had sent me there because he was hungry, and God just wanted him to know that He loved him. I said that I was on my way to church for a revival that night, and really wasn’t hungry, but felt I was to come in and get something to eat. And when I saw him, I knew why I had come.

Toe die man sy skinkbord met kos gekry het, het hy na my toe geloop en gevra of hy by my kon sit. Ek kon ruik dat hy soos alkohol en urine ryk, maar ek het gesê: “Sit asseblief.” Sonder om op te kyk het hy my gevra: “Hoekom het jy dit gedoen? Hoekom het jy vir my hierdie kos gekoop?” Ek het vir Hom gesê dat God my daarheen gestuur het omdat hy honger was en God wou net hê dat hy moes weet dat Hy hom liefhet. Ek het gesê dat ek oppad was kerk toe vir ‘n herlewingsdiens daardie aand en was nie honger nie, maar ek het gevoel dat ek moes inkom en iets kry om te eet. En toe ek hom sien, het ek geweet hoekom ek moes kom.

The man asked me about the revival and said he would go to church with me. I said that there were no strings attached, and that he didn’t need to go. But he said that if I were willing to take him, he would come.

Die man het my gevra oor die herlewingsdiens en het gesê dat hy saam met my kerk toe sou gaan. Ek het vir hom gesê daar is geen voorwaardes nie en en dat hy nie nodig gehad het om te gaan nie. Maar hy het gesê dat as ek gewillig is om hom te vat, hy sal gaan.

Since I was late, I knew there would be no parking (only blocks away), but when I got there, I noticed a spot right in the front. When I walked in with this heavily soiled black man, you would have thought I had entered with a king! The ushers came over and gave him a royal welcome and found a seat for “him” near the front. And guess what? This man was the first person who ran to the altar and wept to accept Jesus that night!! I, on the other hand, was “reprimanded by the head usher” for my foolishness and the danger I had put myself in.

Aangesien ek laat was, het ek geweet dat daar geen parkering sou wees nie (net paar blokke weg), maar toe ons daar kom, het ek ‘n parkering aan die voorkant gesien. Toe ek ingestap het met hierdie baie vuil swart man, sou jy gedink het dat ek saam met ‘n koning ingestap het! Die plekwysers het oorgekom en hom ‘n koninklike verwelkoming gegee en ‘n sitplek vir “hom” naby die voorkant gevind. En raai wat? Hierdie man was die eerste persoon wat daardie aand na die altaar gehardloop en gehuil het om Jesus te aanvaar!! Ek, aan die ander kant, was “berispe deur die hoof plekwyser” vir my dwaasheid en die gevaar waarin ek myself geplaas het.

My husband and children, too, made me promise I would never do that again. Yet, I am grateful to God that He thought me worthy to help in saving that man’s soul and helping Him find peace.

My man en kinders het my ook gemaak belowe dat ek nooit weer so iets sou doen nie. Tog, ek is dankbaar teenoor God dat Hy my waardig gevind het om te help in die redding van daardie man se siel en hom gehelp het om vrede te vind.

Our finances and wealth are not so we can store up riches on earth, but so that we can be used by God (in big and small ways) to advance His kingdom. But unless you are faithful in small things, especially in your lack (right now), then you will never receive the wealth that He wants to entrust to you!

Ons finansies en rykdom is nie sodat ons rykdom op aarde kan opberg nie, maar sodat ons deur God gebruik kan word (in groot of klein maniere) om Sy koninkryk te bevorder. Maar tensy jy getrou is in klein dingetjies, veral in jou gebrek (op hierdie oomblik), sal jy nooit die rykdom ontvang wat Hy aan jou wil toevertrou nie!

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘you wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Matthew 25:24–29).

“Toe kom die een wat een goue muntstuk ontvang het, en sê: ‘Meneer, ek ken u en weet dat u 'n harde man is, wat oes waar u nie gesaai het nie, en pluk waar u nie geplant het nie.

 Omdat ek bang was, het ek u muntstuk in die grond gaan begrawe. Hier het u u geld terug.’ Toe sê sy eienaar vir hom: ‘Jy is 'n slegte en 'n lui slaaf! Jy het geweet dat ek oes waar ek nie gesaai het nie, en pluk waar ek nie geplant het nie.

 Dan moes jy my geld in die bank gesit het, en ek sou dit by my koms met rente teruggekry het. Vat die muntstuk van hom af weg en gee dit aan die een wat die tien het. Aan elkeen wat het, sal meer gegee word, en hy sal oorvloed hê; maar van hom wat nie het nie, sal ook die bietjie wat hy het, weggevat word.’” (Matteus 25:24-29)

 Since my divorce, I have never had more money in my pocket or more financial blessings to use for His kingdom in big and small ways! God saw my heart (by my actions and what I said) when faced with financial ruin this time and He continues to reward me according to my faith in Him!

Sedert my egskeiding, het ek nog nooit meer geld in my sak gehad of finansiële seëninge om vir Sy koninkryk te gebruik op groot en klein maniere nie! God het my hart gesien (deur my aksies en wat ek gesê het) toe ek hierdie keer finansiële ondergang in die gesig gestaar het en Hy hou aan om my te beloon volgens my geloof in Hom!

Even after the divorce papers had been signed, and I had taken all our debt (and more than what my husband had asked for), my ex-husband approached me for “a loan.” I told him that he could take anything he wanted, and it was not a loan, but a gift. I told him to just give me a few minutes to balance my checkbook so that he (not I) could see what I had available and told him to take all of it if he wanted to. I told him that he knew, above what I knew, what I would need to pay the bills (since he had been the one paying them for years).

Selfs nadat die egskeidingsdokumente onderteken is en ek al ons skuld oorgeneem het (en meer as dit waarvoor my man gevra het), het my eksman my genader vir “’n lening.” Ek het vir hom gesê dat hy enigiets kon vat wat hy wou gehad het, en dat dit nie ‘n lening was nie, maar ‘n geskenk. Ek het vir hom gesê om my net ‘n paar minute te gee om my tjekboek te balanseer sodat hy kon sien wat ek beskikbaar gehad het, en ek het vir hom gesê om dit alles te vat as hy wou. Ek het vir hom gesê dat hy geweet het, beter as wat ek geweet het, wat ek nodig sou hê om die rekeninge te betaal (aangesien hy jare lank die een was wat hulle betaal het).

Later, when I looked at the checkbook, I was shocked because asked for two-thirds of what I had in our accounts (that he was no longer on; he had taken me to the bank to take himself off, I would not have asked him to get off). I quickly wrote the check and handed it to him. He just said, “Thanks.”

Ek was later geskok toe ek na die tjekboek kyk, geskok want hy het gevra vir twee-derdes van dit wat in ons rekeninge was (waarop hy nie meer was nie; hy het my na die bank toe gevat om homself af te haal, ek sou hom nie gevra het om dit te doen nie). Ek het vinnig die tjek geskryf en dit aan hom oorhandig. Hy het net gesê: “Dankie.”

Thankfully, our blessings don’t return to us from our husbands or ex-husbands—they come from the Lord! Ladies, almost immediately God blessed me beyond my wildest dreams!!!! Within a few minutes after leaving, my ex-husband called and told me that I could have all our frequent flier miles he had accumulated, allowing me, for the first time to travel

Gelukkig keer ons seëninge nie terug na ons van ons mans of eksmans nie—hulle kom van die Here af! Dames, byna onmiddellik het God my ver bokant my wildste drome geseën!!!! Binne ‘n paar minute nadat hy vertrek het, het my eksman gebel en gesê dat ek al ons gereelde vliegmyle, wat hy opgehoop het, kon kry. Dit het my toegelaat om vir die eerste keer te reis.

When our frequent flier miles had been discussed right after the divorce was first filed, the Lord prompted me to ask if I could have “just one trip” which may have prompted him giving them to me after I generously gave him the money he needed. The amazing thing is, my ex-husband told me he guessed that we probably had about two and a half trips of earned flying miles. But because of how enthusiastically agreeable I had been by signing the papers and all his other demands, he said that I could have them all.

Toe ons gereelde vliegmyle bespreek was, net nadat die egskeiding aanhangig gemaak was, het die Here my gelei om te vra of ek “net een keer kon reis,” wat hom dalk gelei het om hulle vir my te gee, nadat ek hom mildelik die geld gegee het wat hy nodig gehad het. Die ongelooflike ding is, my eksman het vir my gesê hy raai dat ons waarskynlik ongeveer twee en ‘n half reise se vliegmyle gehad het. Maar omdat ek so entoesiasties instemmend was deur die egskeidingsdokumente te teken en al sy ander vereistes, het hy gesê ek kan alles kry.

So right after the “loan” that I gave him as a “gift” (remember, I told him he never needed to pay me back), and after he had offered them to me, he checked to see how many miles I would use up for each domestic trip. Both of us were totally in shock when I had five trips on one card and two on another—7 trips would cost me nothing!!! I sensed my ex really struggling, wanting to ask for some miles back, but because of God’s perfect timing, and Him wanting to bless my faith in Him, my ex-husband never asked, and I kept quiet!

So, net nadat ek hom die “lening” as “geskenk” gegee het (onthou, ek het vir hom gesê hy hoef dit nooit terug te betaal nie), en nadat hy dit vir my aangebied het, het hy gekyk hoeveel myle ek sou gebruik vir elke binnelandse vlug. Altwee van ons was totaal geskok toe ek vyf vlugte op een kaart en twee op ‘n ander een, gehad het—7 vlugte sou my niks kos nie!!!

“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise. When he closes his lips he is counted as prudent” (Proverbs 17:28).

“As ‘n dwaas nie praat nie, kan selfs hy aangesien word vir ‘n wyse, en as hy sy mond toehou, vir ‘n verstandige mens” (Spreuke 17:28).

For two years, I used those miles to be able to visit people as He prompted me, due to the lovingkindness of the Lord, my new Husband, who wanted to bless me because I simply trusted Him!

Vir twee jaar kon ek daardie myle gebruik om mense te besoek soos Hy my gelei het, as gevolg van die goedertierenheid van die Here, my nuwe Man, wat my wou seën omdat ek eenvoudig op Hom vertrou het!

And in case you are wondering why I didn’t offer the flying miles back to my ex when I heard him struggling, it was because the full principle, as I mentioned, is to give more when asked and he never asked!

En as jy wonder hoekom ek nie aangebied het om die vliegmyle vir my eksman terug te gee toe ek gehoor het hy sukkel nie, dit was omdat die volledige beginsel, soos ek genoem het, is om meer te gee as gevra word en hy het nooit gevra nie!

**This is one reason you (and even I) have much less than we would have if we would simply ask and, how we wouldn’t be taken advantage of it we waited until we were asked before we offered.

** Dit is een rede waarom jy (en selfs ek) baie minder het as wat ons sou hê as ons net sou vra en, hoe ons nie misbruik sou word as ons gewag het totdat ons gevra is voordat ons aangebied het nie.

Since I have a limited amount of pages left in this book, you will have to read my upcoming book Breaking Free from The Poverty Mentality” for all the principles and testimonies I’ve accumulated from others as I shared my story with them. But let me at least tell you that simply “asking” was such a revelation for me, which happened right before my divorce.

Aangesien ek ‘n beperkte hoeveelheid bladsye in hierdie boek oor het, sal jy my komende boek moet lees, “Breek Los van die Armoede Mentaliteit,” vir al die beginsels en getuienisse wat ek van ander versamel het, terwyl ek my storie met hulle gedeel het. Maar laat ek jou ten minste vertel dat bloot “vra” so ‘n openbaring vir my was, wat gebeur het net voor my egskeiding.

Just months before I knew my divorce was about to divorce me, while watching a television show, I saw gorgeous a front load washer and drier, and I told my Husband about them. That’s when He said, “Why don’t you just ask Me?” I said, “Okay, I am asking!!” and immediately my old washer started making noise! I got so excited and told my husband that it meant that I was going to be blessed by Him giving me the one that I had seen on television. His comment was, “It just means we need a repair man stupid!”

Net maande voor ek geweet het dat my man op die punt was om van my te skei, terwyl ek ‘n televisieprogram gekyk het, het ek ‘n pragtige voorlading wasmasjien en tuimeldroër gesien en ek het my Man daarvan vertel. Toe het Hy gesê: “Hoekom vra jy My nie?” Ek het gesê: “Okei, ek vra!!” en dadelik het my ou wasmasjien begin geraas maak! Ek het so opgewonde geraak en vir my man gesê dat dit beteken dat ek geseën gaan word deur Hom wat my die een gaan gee wat ek op televisie gesien het. Sy kommentaar was: “Jy is dom, dit beteken net dat ons ‘n herstelman nodig het!”

Just months after my divorce I did get a gorgeous front load washer and drier, in black, which were a dream for me!! And every time I see them, I think of His love and goodness to me—which has been passed on to the next generation! Soon after my son married, I blessed him with these (due to his growing family) and see how my daughter-in-law also thanks the Lord each time she throws in a load of laundry!

Slegs maande na my egskeiding het ek ‘n pragtige voorlading wasmasjien en tuimeldroër gekry, in swart, wat ‘n droom was vir my!! En elke keer as ek hulle sien, dink ek aan Sy liefde en goedheid teenoor my—wat oorgedra was aan die volgende generasie! Kort na my seun se troue, het ek hom geseën met hierdie (as gevolg van sy groeiende familie) en kyk hoe dank my skoondogter ook die Here elke keer as sy ‘n bondel wasgoed ingooi!

Dear reader, whatever you do or don’t do will be passed on through generations. So read this and claim it in your heart, not just for you, but for your children and grandchildren and generations to come!

Liewe leser, wat jy ook al doen of nie doen nie, sal deur generasies oorgedra word. So lees hierdie en eis dit in jou hart, nie net vir jou nie, maar vir jou kinders en kleinkinders en komende generasies!

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
that HE MAY BE GLORIFIED.
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations,
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
—Isaiah 61:1–4

“Die Gees van die oppermagtige Here het op my gekom.
Die Here het my gesalf om goeie nuus te bring vir arm mense.
Hy het my gestuur om dié wat hartseer is, te troos,
om vir die gevangenes vryheid aan te kondig,
en vrylating vir dié in die tronk;
om die genadejaar van die Here aan te kondig,
die dag van afrekening vir ons God.
Maar almal wat treur, troos Hy,
die dag wanneer Hy vir dié wat in Sion treur,
eer gee in plaas van smart,
vreugde in plaas van droefheid,
blydskap in plaas van hartseer.
Die Here het hulle geplant soos sterk
en groot eike om sy roem te vermeerder.
Hulle sal die verlate stede herbou,
en die plekke weer opbou wat lank gelede verwoes is.
Hulle sal die verwoeste stede herstel,
plekke wat vir geslagte lank verlate gelê het.”
—Jesaja 61:1-4NLV