1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, {and} the excellency of our God.
3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4Say to them {that are} of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come {with} vengeance, {even} God {with} a recompence; he will come and save you. {fearful: Heb. hasty}
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6Then shall the lame {man} leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, {shall be} grass with reeds and rushes. {grass...: or, a court for reeds, etc}
8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it {shall be} for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err {therein}. {but...: or, for he shall be with them}
9No lion shall be there, nor {any} ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk {there}:
10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.