1THE parched wilderness shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.

2It shall rejoice like a mountain goat; the glory and honor of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the LORD and the excellency of our God, an admonition and comfort for the weak, for a Saviour is coming to save them.

3Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.

4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God the avenger is coming, even God the Saviour is coming to save you.

5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6Then shall the lame man leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb shall be loosed; for waters are bursting forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

7And the desolate land shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of dragons shall grow grass with reeds and rushes.

8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; and there shall be no road beside it; fools shall not err therein.

9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk therein;

10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.