Guilt, guilt, like a scepter lying in wait,
Dread, dread, like a harbinger of things to come,
Heavy burden, like an atomic weight,
Fear, the steady beat of an ominous drum.
Cry out, you captives, ask for your release,
Throw off the chains of your prisoner’s cell,
Rise up and pray for God’s perfect peace,
Sing a song of praise to Immanuel.
Tell how God sewed up your broken heart,
How He set you free from your sinful ways,
How He changed your thoughts and gave you a new start,
That He’ll raise you up at the end of days.
The Lord deserves your adoration,
Make Him known to every nation.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”
—Isaiah 61:1