1 The Joy of the Redeemed The wilderness and the desert will be delighted,And the 35:1Or desert Arabah will rejoice and flourish;Like the crocus
2 It will flourish profuselyAnd rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.They will see the glory of Yahweh,The majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen limp hands, and give courage to the knees of the stumbling.
4 Say to those with an anxious heart,“Be strong, fear not.Behold, your God will comewithvengeance;The recompense of God will come,But He will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.For waters will break forth in the wildernessAnd streams in the 35:6Or desert Arabah.
7 Then the 35:7 Or mirage scorched land will become a poolAnd the thirsty ground springs of water;In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,Grassbecomesreeds and rushes.
8 And a 35:8Or highway, cf.36:2; 40:3; 49:11 roadway will be there, a highway,And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.The unclean will not pass by on it,But itwillbe for him who walksin thatway,And ignorant fools will not wanderon it.
9 No lion will be there,Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; 35:9Lit It These will not be found there.But the redeemed will walkthere,
10 And the ransomed of Yahweh will returnAnd come with joyful shouting to Zion,With everlasting gladness upon their heads.They will 35:10Lit overtake attain delight and gladness,And sorrow and sighing will flee away.