1 The wilderness and the parched land will be glad because of them; the desert will rejoice and burst into bloom like the crocus.
2 It will blossom profusely and rejoice, yes, with rejoicing and glad shouts. The glory of Lebanon will be granted to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
3 Make the slack hands strong, and steady the knees that give way.
4 Tell those whose hearts are racing, "Be strong, have no fear. See, your God! Vengeance is coming, God's repayment; he himself is coming to save you."
5 Then blind eyes will be opened, and deaf ears unsealed.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will burst out in the wilderness, and torrents in the desert.
7 The scorching sand will turn into a pool, and the thirsty ground into springs of water; in the jackals' lair, where they lay down, grass will give way to reeds and papyrus.
8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be named the Way of Holiness; nothing unclean will travel on it. It will be theirs; those who walk the road, even fools, will not lose their way.
9 No lion will be there, no violent beast will climb onto it; none will be found there. But the redeemed will walk on it.
10 The ransomed of the LORD will come back and enter Zion with shouts of joy, everlasting gladness crowning their heads; joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will run away.