Isaiah

¹ from his roots a budding Branch.

² the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

³ will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay.

⁴ render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked.

⁵ and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

⁶ the leopard sleep with the kid. Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, and a little child will tend them.

⁷ their calves and cubs grow up together, and the lion eat straw like the ox.

⁸ the toddler stick his hand down the hole of a serpent.

⁹ on my holy mountain. The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.

¹⁰ On that day, Jesse's Root will be raised high, posted as a rallying banner for the peoples. The nations will all come to him. His headquarters will be glorious.

¹¹ Also on that day, the Master for the second time will reach out to bring back what's left of his scattered people. He'll bring them back from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Sinar, Hamath, and the ocean islands.

¹² gather in all the scattered exiles of Israel, Pull in all the dispersed refugees of Judah from the four winds and the seven seas.

¹³ the hostility of Judah will vanish— Ephraim no longer the jealous rival of Judah, Judah no longer the hostile rival of Ephraim!

¹⁴ join forces to plunder the people in the east. They'll attack Edom and Moab. The Ammonites will fall into line.

¹⁵ making for an easy crossing. He'll send a blistering wind down on the great River Euphrates, Reduce it to seven mere trickles. None even need get their feet wet!

¹⁶ easy traveling for what's left of God's people— A highway just like the one Israel had when he marched up out of Egypt.