The body of Rosemary Bell was cremated on 26th October 2021. She had prepared her funeral meticulously, and chose that this passage from Isaiah should be read in the King James version. When we heard it we understood why. It made me rethink about how I had translated it. Where had the dragons gone?
I decided to revisit my work and update it in the light of King James.
Isaiah 35
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It 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.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say 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.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And 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.
Andrew's Version
Even the wilderness
is being restored.
The hills become green,
and an abundance of flowers fill the place with joy and singing.
The glory of the creator is being displayed.
“Be strong and do not fear. The
creator destroys wickedness, and rescues you.”
The blind will see, the deaf hear, and
the lame jump up like deer.
Springs of water will gush forth in the
dry and thirsty land.
Pools will form in the desert places, once
only inhabited by dragons.
A great road will be made, called ‘The
Highway of Holiness’.
Those who see the creator will follow
it. The evil will not like it.
The road leads to Jerusalem. It is a
safe road,
Joy and singing will accompany the
traveller.
Grief and sorrow will be no more.
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