Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for 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.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, 
      

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts, 
      

"Be strong, do not fear; 
      

your God will come, 
      

he will come with vengeance; 
      

with divine retribution 
      

he will come to save you."

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened 
      

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, 
      

and the mute tongue shout for joy. 
      

Water will gush forth in the wilderness 
      

and streams in the desert.

7 The burning sand will become a pool, 
      

the thirsty ground bubbling springs. 
      

In the haunts where jackals once lay, 
      

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there; 
      

it will be called the Way of Holiness. 
      

The unclean will not journey on it; 
      

it will be for those who walk in that Way; 
      

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9 No lion will be there, 
      

nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; 
      

they will not be found there. 
      

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10 and the ransomed of the LORD will return. 
      

They will enter Zion with singing; 
      

everlasting joy will crown their heads. 
      

Gladness and joy will overtake them, 
      

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.