The prophet
Isaiah expected a change in the desert.
The desert
and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness
will rejoice and blossom.
Like the
crocus, 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.
Strengthen
the feeble hands,
steady the
knees that give way;
say to those
with fearful hearts,
Be strong
and do not fear;
your God will come,
your God will come,
he will come
with vengeance,
with divine retribution
he will come
to save you.
Then will
the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears
of the deaf unstopped.
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.
The burning
sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground
bubbling springs.
In the
haunts were jackals once lay,
grass and
reeds and papyrus will grow.
And a
highway will be there;
it will be
called the Way of Holiness;
it will be
for those who walk on the Way.
The unclean
will not journey on it;
wicked fools
will not go about on it.
No lion will
be there.
nor any ravenous
beast;
they will
not be found there.
But only the
redeemed will walk there,
and those
that the Lord has rescued 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.
Isaiah 35 NIV
