The Ransomed Return to Zion

• and desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.
• 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and it shall rejoice indeed with rejoicing and exulting.
• The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
  • the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
• They are the ones who[fn] shall see the glory of Yahweh,
  • the majesty of our God.
  • 3 Strengthen the weak hands and make the staggering knees firm.
  
  

4 Say to those who are hasty of heart,

• “Be strong; you must not fear!
  • Look! your God will come with vengeance,
• with divine retribution .[fn]
  • He is the one who[fn] will come and save you.”
  • 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened.
  • 6 Then the lame shall leap like the deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy,
• for waters shall break forth in the wilderness
  • and streams in the desert.
  • 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
• Her resting place is in a settlement of jackals;
  • the grass shall become like reeds[fn] and rushes.[fn]
  • 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness.
• The unclean shall not travel through it,
  • but[fn] it is for them, he who walks on the way;
  • and fools shall not wander about.
  • 9 No lion shall be there, and no ferocious wild beast shall go up it.
• It shall not be found there,
  • but[fn] the redeemed shall walk there.
  • 10 And the ransomed of Yahweh shall return, and they shall come to Zion with rejoicing.
• And everlasting joy shall be on their head;
  • joy and gladness shall overtake them,
    • and sorrow and sighing shall flee.