Isaiah
Chapter 35
Isaiah pictures dry desert land bursting into flower and water breaking out where there was none. Tired and frightened people are told to be strong, because God is coming to save them, and those who cannot see, hear, walk, or speak will be made whole. A safe road runs through the land, and God's rescued people travel it home to Zion, singing.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
1The desert and the empty land will be glad. The dry ground will be happy and bloom like a 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.
2It will burst into flower and shout with joy and singing. It will be given the beauty of the forests of Lebanon and the rich fields of Carmel and Sharon. People will see how great the LORD is. They will see the splendor of our God.
3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
3Give strength to hands that hang down tired. Steady the knees that shake.
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.
4Say to people whose hearts are full of fear, "Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look, your God is coming. He will punish those who did wrong and pay them back. He is coming to save you."
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
5Then the eyes of blind people will be opened, and the ears of deaf people will hear.
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.
6Then people who could not walk will leap like a deer, and people who could not speak will sing for joy. Water will burst out in the desert, and streams will run through the dry land.
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.
7The baked, dry ground will turn into a pool, and the thirsty land will bubble with springs. Where wild jackals once lay down, grass and tall reeds will grow.
The KJV says "dragons." The Hebrew word means jackals, wild dogs that live in empty, ruined places.
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.
8A road will run through that land, a main road. It will be called the Way of Holiness. No one who is unclean will travel it. It belongs to those who walk on it. Even travelers who are simple will not get lost on it.
"Unclean" here does not mean dirty. In Israel's law it meant a person who was not allowed to join in worship until certain steps were taken.
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:
9No lion will be there. No hungry, dangerous animal will come up on that road. None will be found there. Only the people God has bought back will walk on it.
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.
10The people the LORD has set free will come home. They will arrive at Zion singing, with joy that never ends resting on them like a crown. Joy and gladness will catch up with them, and sadness and crying will run away.
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