Isaiah 35

The Ransomed Return to Zion

¹The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;

the desert will rejoice and blossom like a wildflower. ^a,^b

²It 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. ^c

They will see the glory of the Lord, ^d

the splendor of our God. ^e

³Strengthen the weak hands,

steady the shaking knees! ^f

⁴Say to the cowardly:

“Be strong; do not fear!

Here is your God; vengeance is coming. ^g

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

⁵Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped. ⁱ

⁶Then the lame will leap like a deer, ^j

and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, ^k

for water will gush in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert; ^l

⁷the parched ground will become a pool,

and the thirsty land, springs. ^m

In the haunt of jackals, ⁿ in their lairs,

there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.

⁸A road will be there and a way; ^o

it will be called the Holy Way. ^p

The unclean will not travel on it, ^q

but it will be for the one who walks the path. ^r

Fools will not wander on it.

⁹There 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,

¹⁰and the ransomed of the Lord will return ^s

and come to Zion with singing,

crowned with unending joy.

Joy and gladness will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee. ^t