Chap. xxxv.
Thus saith the Lord, Let the thirsty desert be glad, let the wilderness rejoice, and blossom as a rose, and let them bud forth and be exceedingly glad. And let the desert of Jordan rejoice, and the glory of Libanus shall be given unto it, and the honour of Carmel, and my people shall behold the glory of the Lord, and the exaltedness of God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and comfort ye the feeble knees; and say unto them that are faint-hearted in intention, Be ye strong, and fear not, behold our God will render judgment, he will come and save us. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the deaf be distinct; for in the wilderness shall water break out, and a ravine in a thirsty land. And waterless places shall become pools, and in a thirsty land shall be a spring of water: there shall be joy of birds, abodes of syrens, and reeds and pools. And there shall be a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way; and the impure shall not pass there, neither shall an impure way be there, and the dispersed shall walk therein, and shall not wander. And no lion shall be there, nor of evil beasts shall one enter there, nor be found there; but the redeemed and chosen of the Lord shall walk therein. And they shall return and come to Sion with joy and gladness, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: praise, and gladness, and joy shall penetrate them, and pain, grief, and sighing shall flee away.
The reading from the prophecy of Esaias.
Chap. lv.
Thus saith the Lord, O every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and as many as have no money, come ye, buy, and eat and drink, wine and fat, without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken ye to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in good things. Incline your ears, and follow in my ways; hearken unto me, and your soul shall live in good things; and I will promise unto you an everlasting testament, even faithful things befitting unto David. Behold, I have given him to be a testimony among the nations, a prince and a commander among the nations. Behold, nations that have not known thee shall call upon thee, and people that have not recognised thee shall have recourse unto thee, because of the Lord thy God and the holy one of Israel, for I have glorified thee. Seek ye God, and, when ye have found him, call upon him, if haply he may draw nigh unto you. Let the impious forsake his ways, and the transgressing man his counsels; and turn ye unto the Lord your God, and ye shall be pitied; for in much wise he forgiveth your sins. For my counsels are not as your counsels, neither as your ways are my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heaven standeth far from the earth, so standeth my way from your ways, and your contemplations from my thoughts. For as the rain or the snow cometh down from heaven, and returneth not thither, until it soaketh the earth, and generateth, and increaseth, and giveth seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall my word be which goeth out of my lips, and returneth not unto me void, until it accomplisheth all that I have wished, and furthereth my ways and my commandments. For ye shall go forth with joy, and be taught with gladness: for the mountains and the hills shall leap, expecting you with joy, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. And instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a name and for an everlasting sign, and it shall not be cut off.
The reading from the prophecy of Esaias.
Chap. xii.