Isaiah 35

1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.footnote a

5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.footnote b

8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.footnote c

9No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Glory of Zion

1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. 2It will bloom profuselyand 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 the LORD,the splendor of our God.

3Strengthen the limp handsand steady the feeble knees!footnote a 4Say to those with anxious hearts:“Be strong, do not fear!Behold, your God will come with vengeance.With divine retribution He will come to save you.”

5Then the eyes of the blind will be openedand the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6Then the lame will leap like a deerand the mute tongue will shout for joy.For waters will gush forth in the wilderness,and streams in the desert. 7The parched ground will become a pool,the thirsty land springs of water.In the haunt where jackalsfootnote bonce lay,there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

8And there will be a highwaycalled the Way of Holiness.The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it. 9No lion will be there,and no vicious beast will go up on it.Such will not be found there,but the redeemed will walk upon it. 10So the redeemed of the LORD will returnand enter Zion with singing,crowned with everlasting joy.Gladness and joy will overtake them,and sorrow and sighing will flee.