< Isaiah 35 >

1 The wilderness and dry land will celebrate; the desert will blossom like the crocus.
The wilderness and the Arabah will be glad; and the desert will rejoice and blossom. Like the rose,
2 Bloom profusely, celebrate and sing! The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
it will blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of Yahweh, the splendor of our God.
3 Make the weak hands strong, and make the trembling knees firm!
Strengthen the weak hands, and steady the knees that shake.
4 Tell those who are frightened, “Be strong! Don't be afraid! Look, your God is coming to punish his enemies, with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
Say to those with a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Look, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
5 When that happens, the blind will see, and the deaf will hear.
Then the eyes of the blind will see, and the ears of the deaf will hear.
6 The lame will jump like a deer, and the dumb will sing for joy. Springs will gush in the wilderness; streams will flow in the desert.
Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will sing, for water breaks out in the Arabah, and streams in the wilderness.
7 The dried-up ground will become like a pool, the arid land like water springs. In the place where jackals used to live, there will be grass and reeds and rushes.
The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where they once lay, will be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 There will be a highway there, a road called “The Way of Holiness.” Nobody bad will travel on it, only those who follow the Way. Fools will not go there.
A highway will be there called The Holy Way. The unclean will not travel it. But it will be for him who walks in it. No fool will go on it.
9 No lions or other dangerous animals will be found there on the road—only the redeemed will walk along it.
No lion will be there, no ferocious beast will be on it; they will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk there.
10 Those the Lord has set free will return, singing as they enter Jerusalem, wearing crowns of everlasting joy. They are overcome with thankfulness and happiness; sorrow and sadness simply disappear.
The ransomed of Yahweh will return and come with singing to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads; gladness and joy will overtake them; sorrow and sighing will flee away.

< Isaiah 35 >