The Highway of Holiness
Isaiah 35
The desert and wilderness are pictured blossoming and rejoicing as the Lord comes to save his people, opening the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and the tongues of the mute. A holy way is prepared on which the redeemed will travel safely back to Zion with everlasting joy.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonREJOICE, O desert; shout for joy, O thirsty desert and blossom like a lily.
BrentonBe glad, thou thirsty desert: let the wilderness exult, and flower as the lily.
GreekΕὐφράνθητι ἔρημος διψῶσα, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἔρημος, καὶ ἀνθείτω ὡς κρίνον.
KJVThe wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
JPSThe wilderness and the parched land shall be glad; And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2
ThomsonLet the deserts of Jordan also bloom and rejoice; to it hath been given the glory of Lebanon and the honour of Karmel. And My people shall see the glory of the Lord, and the majesty of our God.
BrentonAnd the desert places of Jordan shall blossom and rejoice; the glory of Libanus has been given to it, and the honour of Carmel; and my people shall see the glory of the Lord, and the majesty of God.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξανθήσει καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὰ ἔρημα τοῦ Ἰορδανου, ἡ δόξα τοῦ Λιβάνου ἐδόθη αὐτῇ, καὶ ἡ τιμὴ τοῦ Καρμήλου, καὶ ὁ λαός μου ὄψεται τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου, καὶ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ Θεοῦ.
KJVIt 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.
JPSIt 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, The excellency of our God.
3
ThomsonBe strong ye hands which are feeble, and ye knees which are without strength.
BrentonBe strong, ye relaxed hands and palsied knees.
GreekἸσχύσατε χεῖρες ἀνειμέναι, καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα.
KJVStrengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
JPSStrengthen ye the weak hands, And make firm the tottering knees.
4
ThomsonTake comfort ye who are faint hearted; take courage, be not terrified; behold our God retributeth judgment; He will indeed make retribution—He Himself will come and save us.
BrentonComfort one another, ye faint-hearted; be strong, fear not; behold, our God renders judgment, and he will render it; he will come and save us.
GreekΠαρακαλέσατε οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ διανοίᾳ· ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀνταποδίδωσι, καὶ ἀνταποδώσει, αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς.
KJVSay 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.
JPSSay to them that are of a fearful heart: ‘Be strong, fear not’; Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God He will come and save you.
5
ThomsonThen shall be opened the eyes of the blind; and the ears of the deaf will hear.
BrentonThen shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear.
GreekΤότε ἀνοιχθήσονται ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν, καὶ ὦτα κωφῶν ἀκούσονται.
KJVThen the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
JPSThen the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6
ThomsonThen will the lame bound like a hart; and the stammering tongue will speak plain. Because water is burst forth in the desert, and torrents in a thirsty land;
BrentonThen shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerers shall speak plainly; for water has burst forth in the desert, and a channel of water in a thirsty land.
GreekΤότε ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφος ὁ χωλὸς, τρανὴ δὲ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων, ὅτι ἐῤῥάγη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ, καὶ φάραγξ ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ.
KJVThen 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.
JPSThen shall the lame man leap as a hart, And the tongue of the dumb shall sing; For in the wilderness shall waters break out, And streams in the desert.
7
Thomsontherefore the glowing sand shall become pools, and for the thirsty soil there will be fountains of water. The reedy beds and the pools there will be the joy of birds.
BrentonAnd the dry land shall become pools, and a fountain of water shall be poured into the thirsty land; there shall there be a joy of birds, ready habitations and marshes.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἡ ἄνυδρος εἰς ἕλη, καὶ εἰς τὴν διψῶσαν γῆν πηγὴ ὕδατος ἔσται· ἐκεῖ εὐφροσύνη ὀρνέων, ἐπαύλεις καλάμου καὶ ἕλη.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonThere will be there a pure highway, which shall be called The Holy Way. And the unclean shall not come there; nor shall there be there an unclean way. But as for the dispersed, they shall travel it, and shall not be led astray.
BrentonThere shall be there a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way; and there shall not pass by there any unclean person, neither shall there be there an unclean way; but the dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray.
GreekἜσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς καθαρά, καὶ ὁδὸς ἁγία κληθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἐκεῖ ἀκάθαρτος, οὐδὲ ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ἀκάθαρτος· οἱ δὲ διεσπαρμένοι πορεύσονται ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐ μὴ πλανηθῶσι.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd a 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, yea fools, shall not err therein.
9
Thomson—
BrentonAnd there shall be no lion there, neither shall any evil beast go up upon it, nor at all be found there; but the redeemed and gathered on the Lord's behalf, shall walk in it,
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐκεῖ λέων, οὐδὲ τῶν πονηρῶν θηρίων οὐ μὴ ἀναβῇ εἰς αὐτὴν, οὐδὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ἐκεῖ, ἀλλὰ πορεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ λελυτρωμένοι,
KJVNo lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
JPSNo lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon, They shall not be found there; But the redeemed shall walk there;
10
ThomsonNo lion shall be there; nor shall any ravenous beast come up thither, nor ever be found there; but in it the redeemed will walk, and they who have been collected for the Lord. They indeed shall return and come to Sion with joy, and everlasting joy shall crown their head: for on their heads will be praise and rapture; and gladness shall have full possession of them. Pain and sorrow and sighing are fled.
Brentonand shall return, and come to Sion with joy, and everlasting joy shall be over their head; for on their head shall be praise and exultation, and joy shall take possession of them: sorrow and pain, and groaning have fled away.
GreekΚαὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ Κύριον, καὶ ἀποστραφήσονται, καὶ ἥξουσιν εἰς Σιὼν μετʼ εὐφροσύνης, καὶ εὐφροσύνη αἰώνιος ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν· ἐπὶ γὰρ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν αἴνεσις καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα, καὶ εὐφροσύνη καταλήμψεται αὐτοὺς, ἀπέδρα ὀδύμη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμός.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come with singing unto Zion, And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.