⁸ The Lord said:
At the right time, I answered you;
    on a day of salvation, I helped you.
    I have guarded you,
    and given you as a covenant to the people, to restore the land,
    and to reassign deserted properties,
⁹     saying to the prisoners, “Come out,”
    and to those in darkness, “Show yourselves.”
Along the roads animals^[a] will graze;
    their pasture will be on every treeless hilltop.
¹⁰ They won’t hunger or thirst;
    the burning heat and sun won’t strike them,
    because one who has compassion for them will lead them
    and will guide them by springs of water.
¹¹ I will turn all my mountains into roads;
    my highways will be built up.
¹² Look! These will come from far away.
    Look! These from the north and west,
    and these from the southland.^[b]

¹² Yes, you will go out with celebration,
    and you will be brought back in peace.
Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you;
    all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
¹³ In place of the thorn the cypress will grow;
    in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow.
This will attest to the Lord’s stature,
        an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.