Isaiah 35
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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) 2 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)
3 Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees.(C)
4 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)
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;(E)
6 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)
7 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)
8 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)
9 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)
Footnotes
- 34.17–35.2 Q ms lacks 34.17–35.2
- 35.7 Cn: Heb in the haunt of jackals is her resting place
- 35.8 Q ms Gk Syr: MT A highway and a way shall be there
- 35.8 Or pass it by
- 35.8 Cn: Heb for them
Isaiah 35
International Standard Version
The Future of Israel’s Land
35 “The desert and the dry land will rejoice;
the desert will celebrate and blossom. Like crocuses,
2 it will burst into bloom,
and rejoice with gladness and shouts of joy.
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.[a]
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
and support the stumbling knees.
4 Say to those with anxious hearts,
‘Be strong, do not be afraid!
Here is your God—
he will bring[b] vengeance,
he will bring[c] divine retribution,
and he will save you.’
5 “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unblocked;
6 then the lame will leap like deer,
and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy.
Yes, waters will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will run[d] through the desert;
7 the burning sands will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground fountains of water.
In the haunts of jackals there will be
a verdant resting place with[e] reeds and rushes.”
God’s Holy Highway
8 “A highway will be there—yes, there—[f]
and people will call it[g] ‘The Holy Way’.[h]
As for unclean people,
they will not journey on it,
but it will be for whomever[i] is traveling on that Way—
not even fools will get lost.
9 No lions will be there—
no—[j] nor will any ferocious beasts get up on it,
and[k] they will not be found there.
“But the redeemed will walk there,
10 and the Lord’s ransomed ones will return
and enter Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy will rest upon their heads,
gladness and joy will overtake them,[l]
and sorrow and mourning will flee away.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 35:2 So MT LXX 1QIsaa corrector; 1QIsaa lacks vss. 1-2
- Isaiah 35:4 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads he will come
- Isaiah 35:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will come
- Isaiah 35:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack will run
- Isaiah 35:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads is her resting place; the grass will become
- Isaiah 35:8 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack yes, there
- Isaiah 35:8 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read it will be called
- Isaiah 35:8 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads Way, yes, Way
- Isaiah 35:8 So 1QIsaa; MT reads but it will be for the one; cf. LXX
- Isaiah 35:9 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack no
- Isaiah 35:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks and
- Isaiah 35:10 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsaa corrector lacks them; MT reads they will attain gladness and joy
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