The Ransomed Return to Zion

35 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;

the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. q r s

2 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. t

They will see the glory of the Lord, u

the splendor of our God. v

3 Strengthen the weak hands,

steady the shaking knees! w

4 Say to the cowardly:

“Be strong; do not fear!

Here is your God; vengeance is coming. x

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

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped. z

6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, a

and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, b

for water will gush in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert; c

7 the parched ground will become a pool of water,

and the thirsty land springs of water. d

In the haunt of jackals, e in their lairs,

there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.

8 A road will be there and a way; f

it will be called the Holy Way. g

The * unclean will not travel on it, h

but it will be for the one who walks the path. i

Even the fool will not go astray.

9 There will be no lion there,

and no vicious beast will go up on it;

they will not be found there.

But the redeemed will walk on it,

10 and the redeemed of the Lord will return j

and come to * Zion with singing,

crowned with unending joy.

Joy and gladness will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee. k