³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees^(J) that give way;
⁴ say^(K) to those with fearful hearts,^(L)
    “Be strong, do not fear;^(M)
your God will come,^(N)
    he will come with vengeance;^(O)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save^(P) you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened^(Q)
    and the ears of the deaf^(R) unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame^(S) leap like a deer,^(T)
    and the mute tongue^(U) shout for joy.^(V)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams^(W) in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground^(X) bubbling springs.^(Y)
In the haunts where jackals^(Z) once lay,
    grass and reeds^(AA) and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway^(AB) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;^(AC)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean^(AD) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion^(AE) will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;^(AF)
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed^(AG) will walk there,
¹⁰     and those the Lord has rescued^(AH) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;^(AI)
    everlasting joy^(AJ) will crown their heads.
Gladness^(AK) and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(AL)

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet^(A) of the Most High;^(B)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,^(C)
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,^(D)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun^(E) will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,^(F)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”^(G)

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,^(J)
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;^(K)