35 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a wildflower.^[a](A)
2 It will blossom abundantly
and will also rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.^(B)
They will see the glory of the Lord,^(C)
the splendor of our God.^(D)
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
steady the shaking knees!^(E)
4 Say to the cowardly:
“Be strong; do not fear!
Here is your God; vengeance is coming.^(F)
God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.”^(G)
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.^(H)
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,^(I)
and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,^(J)
for water will gush in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;^(K)
7 the parched ground will become a pool,
and the thirsty land, springs.^(L)
In the haunt of jackals,^(M) in their lairs,
there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
⁸ A road will be there and a way;^(N)
it will be called the Holy Way.^(O)
The unclean will not travel on it,^(P)
but it will be for the one who walks the path.^(Q)
Fools will not wander on it.
⁹ There will be no lion there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it;
they will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk on it,
¹⁰ and the ransomed of the Lord will return^(R)
and come to Zion with singing,
crowned with unending joy.
Joy and gladness will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee.^(S)