Isaiah 11:9–16

Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill

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.

12–16  And he’ll raise that rallying banner high, visible to all nations,

gather in all the scattered exiles of Israel,

Pull in all the dispersed refugees of Judah

from the four winds and the seven seas.

The jealousy of Ephraim will dissolve,

the hostility of Judah will vanish—

Ephraim no longer the jealous rival of Judah,

Judah no longer the hostile rival of Ephraim!

Blood brothers united, they’ll pounce on the Philistines in the west,

join forces to plunder the people in the east.

They’ll attack Edom and Moab.

The Ammonites will fall into line.

God will once again dry up Egypt’s Red Sea,

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!

In the end there’ll be a highway all the way from Assyria,

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.