Zion’s Happy Future

1 The awilderness and the desert will be glad,

And the 1bArabah will rejoice and blossom;

Like the crocus

2 It will ablossom profusely

And brejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.

The cglory of Lebanon will be given to it,

The majesty of dCarmel and Sharon.

They will see the eglory of the Lord,

The majesty of our God.

3 aEncourage the 1exhausted, and strengthen the 2feeble.

4 Say to those with aanxious heart,

“Take courage, fear not.

Behold, your God will come with bvengeance;

The crecompense of God will come,

But He will dsave you.”

5 Then the aeyes of the blind will be opened

And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

6 Then the alame will leap like a deer,

And the btongue of the mute will shout for joy.

For waters will break forth in the cwilderness

And streams in the 1Arabah.

7 The 1scorched land will become a pool

And the thirsty ground asprings of water;

In the bhaunt of jackals, its resting place,

Grass becomes reeds and rushes.

8 aA highway will be there, ba roadway,

And it will be called the Highway of cHoliness.

The unclean will not travel on it,

But it will be for him who walks that way,

And dfools will not wander on it.

9 No alion will be there,

Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;

1These will not be found there.

But bthe redeemed will walk there,

10 And athe ransomed of the Lord will return

And come with joyful shouting to Zion,

With everlasting joy upon their heads.

They will 1find gladness and joy,

And bsorrow and sighing will flee away.