35 The wilderness and the desert will celebrate,

and the Aravah plain will be happy and blossom like a lily.

2 It will blossom widely and be glad,

even with happiness and cheery shouting.

Lebanon’s glory will be given to it,

as well as the splendour of Carmel and Sharon.

They will see Yahweh’s brightness—the splendour of our god.

3 Strengthen the limp hands,

≈ and steady the stumbling knees.[ref]

4 Tell those with anxious hearts,

“Be strong—don’t be afraid.

Listen, your god will come with vengeance—

paying them back for what they’ve done.

→ He himself will come and rescue you.”

5 Then the blind will be able to see again,

≈ and deaf people will be able to hear.[ref]

6 Then the lame person will leap like a deer

≈ and the one who’s mute will shout happily

because springs will burst out in the wilderness,

≈ and streams in the Aravah plain.

7 The parched ground will become a pool,

≈ and the thirsty place will become springs of water.

The place where jackals lived and relaxed

→ will grow grass, reeds, and papyrus.

8 There’ll be a highway to travel on

→ and it’ll be called ‘the sacred road’.

The ‘unclean’ won’t use it

but it’ll be for those walking in the right direction—

fools won’t be allowed to wander onto it.

9 There’ll be no lions there

≈ and no dangerous wild animals on it.

Those creatures won’t be found there,

but those people who’ve been bought back will walk on it.

10 Then the people ransomed by Yahweh will return

and they’ll come to Tsiyyon (Zion) with a cheerful shout.

They’ll always be happy and gladness and celebration will overwhelm them,

and sorrow and groaning will disappear.