Isaiah 35

1 The wilderness [desert, dry land] and the land [plain, open field] will be glad [rejoice, celebrate]; the desert [wilderness, solitary place] will rejoice [be joyful, feel cheerful] and blossom [sprout, flourish] like a rose [crocus, lily]. word study 2 It will bloom [flourish abundantly, produce flowers] profusely and rejoice [be glad, celebrate] with joy [great delight, happiness] and singing [praise, music]. The glory [honor, splendor] of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor [beauty, excellence] of Carmel and Sharon. They will see [behold, look upon] the glory [majesty, greatness] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the splendor [excellence, majesty] of our God [Elohim, the Creator]. word study 3 Strengthen [make strong, confirm] the limp [weak, feeble] hands and steady [support, comfort] the feeble [stumbling, trembling] knees [parts of the body used for movement and flexibility]! word study 4 Say to those with anxious [fearful, hastened] hearts: “Be strong [courageous, take heart], do not fear [be afraid, revere]! Behold [look, see], your God [Elohim, the supreme God] will come with vengeance [recompense, punishment]. With divine retribution [the reward of God] He will come [approach, arrive] to save [rescue, deliver] you.” word study 5 Then [at that time, in the future] the eyes [the ability to see spiritually] of the blind [those unable to see, physically or spiritually] will be opened [to see, to understand, to perceive] and the ears [the ability to hear, to listen] of the deaf [those unable to hear, physically or spiritually] unstopped [to hear, to listen, to obey]. word study 6 Then [at that time, in the future] the lame [feeble-footed, crippled] will leap [jump, spring into action] like a deer [hart, stag] and the mute [dumb, unable to speak] tongue [language, voice] will shout [sing, overcome] for joy [with triumph, in praise]. For [because, since] waters [streams, rivers] will gush forth [break out, burst out] in the wilderness [desert, dry land], and streams [brooks, small rivers] in the desert [plain, Arabah]. word study 7 The parched [scorching, dry] ground will become a pool [a body of calm water, a marsh], the thirsty [barren, desolate] land springs [fountains, sources] of water [refreshment, renewal]. In the haunt [dwelling place, pasture] where jackals [monsters, serpents] once lay [rested, couched], there will be grass [green vegetation, plants] and reeds [branches, stalks] and papyrus [a type of reed, absorbent plant]. word study 8 And there will be a highway [main road, turnpike] called the Way of Holiness [the Holy Way, sacred path]. The unclean [spiritually impure, sinful] will not travel it— only those who walk in the Way [follow the path of righteousness, conduct their lives as God wants]— and fools [those who despise wisdom, are morally corrupt] will not stray [go astray, wander] onto it. word study 9 No [absent, non-existent] lion will be there, and no [none, not any] vicious [violent, destructive] beast [ravenous animal] will go up on it [ascend, rise]. Such [these things, evil creatures] will not [never, under no circumstances] be found [discovered, encountered] there, but the [those who have been] redeemed [bought back, freed from bondage] will walk [travel, journey] upon it [this path, this way]. word study 10 So the redeemed [ransomed, set free by God] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will return [come back, turn back to God] and enter Zion [the mountain in Jerusalem, the city of God] with singing [loud, ringing cries of joy], crowned with everlasting [forever, age-during] joy [happiness]. Gladness [rejoicing, celebration] and joy [happiness, delight] will overtake [reach, catch up to] them, and sorrow [a state of grief] and sighing [groaning, a sound of pain] will flee [quickly leave, escape]. word study