1 Wilderness and arid land shall be jubilant;
the desert shall rejoice
when it blossoms like the crocus.
2 Joyously it shall break out in flower,
singing with delight;
it shall be endowed with the glory of Lebanon,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
The glory of Jehovah and the splendor of our God
they shall see there.
3 Strengthen the hands grown feeble,
steady the failing knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,
Take courage, be unafraid!
See, your God is coming to avenge and to reward;
God himself will come and deliver you.
5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame leap like deer,
and the tongue of the dumb shout for joy.
Water shall break forth in the wilderness
and streams flow in the desert.
7 The land of mirages shall become one of lakes,
the thirsty place springs of water;
in the haunt of howling creatures [shall marshes break out],
in the reserves shall come rushes and reeds.
8 There shall be highways and roads
which shall be called the Way of Holiness,
for they shall be for such as are holy.
The unclean shall not traverse them;
on them shall no reprobates wander.
9 No lions shall be encountered there,
nor shall wild beasts intrude.
But the redeemed shall walk them,
10 the ransomed of Jehovah shall return;
they shall come singing to Zion,
their heads crowned with everlasting joy.
They shall have won joy and gladness
when sorrow and sighing flee away.