A Song of the Wilderness (Advent)

1    The wilderness and the dry land shall rejoice,  

the desert shall blossom and burst into song.

2    They shall see the glory of the Lord,  

the majesty of our God.

3    Strengthen the weary hands,  

and make firm the feeble knees.

4    Say to the anxious, ‘Be strong, fear not,

    your God is coming with judgement,  

coming with judgement to save you.’

5    Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened,  

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6    Then shall the lame leap like a hart,  

and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.

7    For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,  

and streams in the desert;

8    The ransomed of the Lord shall return with singing,  

with everlasting joy upon their heads.

9    Joy and gladness shall be theirs,  

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35.1,2b–4a,4c–6,10

Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever. Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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