The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with divine recompense to save you."
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame one leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.
Waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
The haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Using and adapting lines from Isaiah 35.