| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"The desert and the dry land will rejoice; the desert will celebrate and blossom. Like crocuses, | 1Let the desert and dry region be happy; let the wilderness rejoice and bloom like a lily! |
| 2it will burst into bloom, and rejoice with gladness and shouts of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. | 2Let it richly bloom; let it rejoice and shout with delight! It is given the grandeur of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the grandeur of the LORD, the splendor of our God. |
| 3Strengthen the feeble hands, and support the stumbling knees. | 3Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! |
| 4Say to those with anxious hearts, 'Be strong, do not be afraid! Here is your God— he will bring vengeance, he will bring divine retribution, and he will save you.' | 4Tell those who panic, "Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you." |
| 5"Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unblocked; | 5Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. |
| 6then the lame will leap like deer, and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy. Yes, waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will run through the desert; | 6Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness. |
| 7the burning sands will become a pool, and the thirsty ground fountains of water. In the haunts of jackals there will be a verdant resting place with reeds and rushes." | 7The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow. |
| 8"A highway will be there—yes, there— and people will call it 'The Holy Way'. As for unclean people, they will not journey on it, but it will be for whomever is traveling on that Way— not even fools will get lost. | 8A thoroughfare will be there--it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it--fools will not stray into it. |
| 9No lions will be there— no— nor will any ferocious beasts get up on it, and they will not be found there. "But the redeemed will walk there, | 9No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it--they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it, |
| 10and the LORD's ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing. Everlasting joy will rest upon their heads, gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and mourning will flee away." | 10those whom the LORD has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear. |
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