1 T he waste-land and the dry land will be glad. The desert will be full of joy and become like a rose.

¶ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the lily.

2 M any flowers will grow in it, and it will be filled with joy and singing. The greatness of Lebanon will be given to it, and the beauty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the shining-greatness of the Lord, the wonderful power of our God.

It shall blossom abundantly and shall also praise and sing for joy; the honour of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the beauty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD and the beauty of our God.

3 G ive strength to weak hands and to weak knees.

Comfort ye the tired hands and strengthen the knees that tremble.

4 S ay to those whose heart is afraid, “Have strength of heart, and do not be afraid. See, your God will come ready to punish. He will come to make sinners pay for their sins, but He will save you.”

Say to those that are of a fearful heart, Be comforted, fear not; behold, your God comes with vengeance, with recompense; God himself will come and save you.

5 T hen the eyes of the blind will be opened. And the ears of those who cannot hear will be opened.

¶ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 T hen those who cannot walk will jump like a deer. And the tongue of those who cannot speak will call out for joy. For waters will break out in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Then the lame one shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall praise; for waters shall be dug in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

7 T he burning sand will become a pool. The thirsty ground will become wells of water. The resting place of the wild dog will be filled with river-grasses.

The parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 A nd a road will be there. It will be called the Holy Way. Those who are unclean will not travel on it. But it will be for those who walk in that way. Fools will not walk on it.

And a highway shall be there and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; and for those in it there shall be someone to go with them, in such a manner that the foolish shall not err therein.

9 N o lion will be there. No angry and hungry animal will go up on it. They will not be found there. But those whose sin has been paid for will walk there.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, nor shall any be found there so that the redeemed can walk there:

10 T hose whom the Lord has paid for and set free will return. They will come to Zion with singing. Joy that lasts forever will crown their heads. They will be glad and full of joy. Sorrow and sad voices will be gone.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall retain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.