Isaiah 35:1–6a

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 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.

Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

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.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;

the desert will rejoice and blossom like a wildflower.

It will blossom abundantly

and will also 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.

Strengthen the weak hands,

steady the shaking knees!

Say to the cowardly:

“Be strong; do not fear!

Here is your God; vengeance is coming.

God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Then the lame will leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,

for water will gush in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.

The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.

Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers

and singing and joy!

The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,

as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.

There the Lord will display his glory,

the splendor of our God.

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.

He is coming to save you.”

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind

and unplug the ears of the deaf.

The lame will leap like a deer,

and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!

Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,

and streams will water the wasteland.

Wilderness and dry land shall be glad,

and desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.

It shall blossom abundantly,

and it shall rejoice indeed with rejoicing and exulting.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They are the ones who shall see the glory of Yahweh,

the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands

and make the staggering knees firm.

Say to those who are hasty of heart,

“Be strong; you must not fear!

Look! your God will come with vengeance,

with divine retribution.

He is the one who will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf shall be opened.

Then the lame shall leap like the deer,

and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy,

for waters shall break forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;

And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

It 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.

Strengthen ye the weak hands,

And confirm the feeble knees.

Say 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.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then 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.