Isaiah 35

1 The waste land and the dry places will be glad; the lowland will have joy and be full of flowers.

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like the crocus.

2 It will be flowering like the rose; it will be full of delight and songs; the glory of Lebanon will be given to it; the pride of Carmel and Sharon: they will see the glory of the Lord, the power of our God.

It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon's glory Lebanon will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the LORD's glory, the excellence of our God.

3 Make strong the feeble hands, give support to the shaking knees.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who are full of fear, Be strong and take heart: see, your God will give punishment; the reward of God will come; he himself will come to be your saviour.

Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look, your God will come with vengeance, God's retribution. He will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind will see, and the ears which are stopped will be open.

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

6 Then will the feeble-footed be jumping like a roe, and the voice which was stopped will be loud in song: for in the waste land streams will be bursting out, and waters in the dry places.

Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

7 And the burning sand will become a pool, and the dry earth springs of waters: the fields where the sheep take their food will become wet land, and water-plants will take the place of grass.

The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.

8 And a highway will be there; its name will be, The Holy Way; the unclean and the sinner may not go over it, and those who go on it will not be turned out of the way by the foolish.

And a highway will be there, and it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.

9 No lion will be there, or any cruel beast; they will not be seen there; but those for whom the Lord has given a price,

No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there.

10 Even those whom he has made free, will come back again; they will come with songs to Zion; on their heads will be eternal joy; delight and joy will be theirs, and sorrow and sounds of grief will be gone for ever.

The LORD's ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."