Add parallel Print Page Options

Fertile wilderness

35 The desert and the dry land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus.
They will burst into bloom,
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
They will receive the glory of Lebanon,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the Lord’s glory,
    the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,
    and support the unsteady knees.
Say to those who are panicking:
    “Be strong! Don’t fear!
    Here’s your God,
        coming with vengeance;
        with divine retribution
    God will come to save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf will be cleared.
Then the lame will leap like the deer,
    and the tongue of the speechless will sing.
Waters will spring up in the desert,
    and streams in the wilderness.
The burning sand will become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground, fountains of water.
The jackals’ habitat, a pasture;[a]
    grass will become reeds and rushes.
A highway will be there.
    It will be called The Holy Way.
The unclean won’t travel on it,
    but it will be for those walking on that way.[b]
Even fools won’t get lost on it;
    no lion will be there,
    and no predator will go up on it.
None of these will be there;
    only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 The Lord’s ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing,
    with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Happiness and joy will overwhelm them;
    grief and groaning will flee away.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 35:7 Heb uncertain
  2. Isaiah 35:8 Heb uncertain

The Return of the Redeemed to Zion

35 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus(A) it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and shouting.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.]][a](B)

Strengthen the weak hands
    and make firm the feeble knees.(C)
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
    “Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
    He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
    He will come and save you.”(D)

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;(E)
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert;(F)
the burning sand shall become a pool
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;[b]
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.(G)

A highway shall be there,[c]
    and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,[d]
    but it shall be for God’s people;[e]
    no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.(H)
No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.(I)
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain joy and gladness,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 34.17–35.2 Q ms lacks 34.17–35.2
  2. 35.7 Cn: Heb in the haunt of jackals is her resting place
  3. 35.8 Q ms Gk Syr: MT A highway and a way shall be there
  4. 35.8 Or pass it by
  5. 35.8 Cn: Heb for them

The person whose help is the God of Jacob—
    the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—
    is truly happy!
God: the maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
God: who is faithful forever,
    who gives justice to people who are oppressed,
    who gives bread to people who are starving!
The Lord: who frees prisoners.
    The Lord: who makes the blind see.
    The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low.
    The Lord: who loves the righteous.
    The Lord: who protects immigrants,
        who helps orphans and widows,
        but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn!

10 The Lord will rule forever!
    Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next!

Praise the Lord!

Read full chapter

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,(A)
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;(B)
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;(C)
    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.(D)
The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.(E)

10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!(F)

Read full chapter

Courageous patience

Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits patiently for the coming of rain in the fall and spring, looking forward to the precious fruit of the earth. You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t complain about each other, brothers and sisters, so that you won’t be judged. Look! The judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patient resolve and steadfastness.

Read full chapter

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.(A) You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.[a](B) Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!(C) 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5.8 Or is at hand

Question from John the Baptist

Now when John heard in prison about the things the Christ was doing, he sent word by his disciples to Jesus, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Jesus responded, “Go, report to John what you hear and see. Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled are walking. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. The poor have good news proclaimed to them.[a] Happy are those who don’t stumble and fall because of me.”

Appeal of John’s ministry

When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who wear refined clothes are in royal palaces. What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.[b]

Significance of John’s ministry

11 “I assure you that no one who has ever been born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Read full chapter

Messengers from John the Baptist

When John heard in prison what the Messiah[a] was doing, he sent word by his[b] disciples(A) and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”(B) Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.(C) And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”(D)

Jesus Praises John the Baptist

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?(E) What, then, did you go out to see? Someone[c] dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet?[d] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.(F) 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’(G)

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 11.2 Or the Christ
  2. 11.2 Other ancient authorities read two of his
  3. 11.8 Or Why, then, did you go out? To see someone
  4. 11.9 Other ancient authorities read Why, then, did you go out? To see a prophet?