¹The wilderness and the dry land will be glad .

The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose .

²It will blossom abundantly ,

and rejoice even with joy and singing .

Lebanon ’s glory will be given to it ,

the excellence of Carmel and Sharon .

They will see the LORD ’s glory ,

the excellence of our God .

³Strengthen the weak hands ,

and make the feeble knees firm .

⁴Tell those who have a fearful heart , “Be strong !

Don’t be afraid !

Behold , your God will come with vengeance , God’s retribution .

He will come and save you .

⁵Then the eyes of the blind will be opened ,

and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped .

⁶Then the lame man will leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute will sing ;

for waters will break out in the wilderness ,

and streams in the desert .

⁷The burning sand will become a pool ,

and the thirsty ground springs of water .

Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals , where they lay .

⁸A highway will be there , a road ,

and it will be called “The Holy Way ”.

The unclean shall not pass over it ,

but it will be for those who walk in the Way .

Wicked fools shall not go there .

⁹No lion will be there ,

nor will any ravenous animal go up on it .

They will not be found there ;

but the redeemed will walk there .

¹⁰Then the LORD ’s ransomed ones will return ,

and come with singing to Zion ;

and everlasting joy will be on their heads .

They will obtain gladness and joy ,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away .”