Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

The desert^a and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.^b

Like the crocus,^c it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.^d

The glory of Lebanon^e will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel^f and Sharon;^g

they will see the glory^h of the Lord,

the splendor of our God.ⁱ

Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees^j that give way;

say^k to those with fearful hearts,^l

“Be strong, do not fear;^m

your God will come,ⁿ

he will come with vengeance;^o

with divine retribution

he will come to save^p you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened^q

and the ears of the deaf^r unstopped.

Then will the lame^s leap like a deer,^t

and the mute tongue^u shout for joy.^v

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams^w in the desert.

The burning sand will become a pool,

the thirsty ground^x bubbling springs.^y

In the haunts where jackals^z once lay,

grass and reeds^a and papyrus will grow.

And a highway^b will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;^c

it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean^d will not journey on it;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

No lion^e will be there,

nor any ravenous beast;^f

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed^g will walk there,

and those the Lord has rescued^h will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;ⁱ

everlasting joy^j will crown their heads.

Gladness^k and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^l