Zion’s Happy Future

35 The (A)wilderness and the desert will rejoice,
And the [a](B)desert will shout for joy and blossom;
Like the crocus
It will (C)blossom profusely
And (D)rejoice with joy and jubilation.
The (E)glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of (F)Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the (G)glory of the Lord,
The majesty of our God.
(H)Strengthen the [b]exhausted, and make the [c]feeble strong.
Say to those with (I)anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with (J)vengeance;
The (K)retribution of God will come,
But He will (L)save you.”
Then the (M)eyes of those who are blind will be opened,
And the ears of those who are deaf will be unstopped.
Then those who (N)limp will leap like a deer,
And the (O)tongue of those who cannot speak will shout for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the (P)wilderness,
And streams in the [d]desert.
The [e]scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground (Q)springs of water;
In the (R)haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
(S)A highway will be there, (T)a roadway,
And it will be called the Highway of (U)Holiness.
The unclean will not travel on it,
But it will be for the one who walks that way,
And (V)fools will not wander on it.
No (W)lion will be there,
Nor will any vicious animal go up on it;
[f]They will not be found there.
But (X)the redeemed will walk there,
10 And (Y)the redeemed of the Lord will return
And come to Zion with joyful shouting,
And everlasting joy will be on their heads.
They will obtain gladness and joy,
And (Z)sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 35:1 Or Arabah
  2. Isaiah 35:3 Lit slack hands
  3. Isaiah 35:3 Lit tottering knees
  4. Isaiah 35:6 Or Arabah
  5. Isaiah 35:7 Or mirage
  6. Isaiah 35:9 Lit It

The Ransomed Return to Zion

35 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.[a][b](A)
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)
Strengthen the weak hands,
steady the shaking knees!(E)
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)
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.(H)
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)
the parched ground will become a pool of water,
and the thirsty land springs of water.(L)
In the haunt of jackals,(M) in their lairs,
there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
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)
Even the fool will not go astray.
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 redeemed 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)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 35:1 Or meadow saffron
  2. Isaiah 35:1 Not the modern flower but a common wildflower in northern Israel