Isaiah 35

1

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,

2

it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

3

Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

4

say to those with fearful hearts,

"Be strong, do not fear, your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution he will come to save you."

5

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

 and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6

Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilferness

and streams in the desert.

7

The burning sand will become a pool,

the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8

And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walks in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9

No lion will be there,

nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10

and the ransomed of the LORD will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and the sorrow and sighing will flee away.