¹ The wilderness and the parched land will exult;
    the Arabah will rejoice and bloom;^(A)
2 Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly,
    and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.^(B)
3 Strengthen hands that are feeble,
    make firm knees that are weak,^(C)
4 Say to the fearful of heart:
    Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God,
    he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
    he comes to save you.^(D)
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall see,
    and the ears of the deaf be opened;^(E)
6 Then the lame shall leap like a stag,
    and the mute tongue sing for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the Arabah.^(F)
7 The burning sands will become pools,
    and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals crouch
    will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
⁸ A highway will be there,
    called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
    but it will be for his people;
    no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.^(G)
9 No lion shall be there,
    nor any beast of prey approach,
    nor be found.
    But there the redeemed shall walk,^(H)
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
    and enter Zion singing,
    crowned with everlasting joy;
They meet with joy and gladness,
    sorrow and mourning flee away.^(I)