Isaiah 11:2–9

²The Spirit of the Lord will rest on that Branch.

He will help him to be wise and understanding.

He will help him make wise plans and carry them out.

He will help him know the Lord and have respect for him.

³The Branch will take delight

in respecting the Lord.

He will not judge things only by the way they look.

He won’t make decisions based simply on what people say.

⁴He will always do what is right

when he judges those who are in need.

He’ll be completely fair

when he makes decisions about poor people.

When he commands that people be punished,

it will happen.

When he orders that evil people be put to death,

it will take place.

⁵He will put godliness on as if it were his belt.

He’ll wear faithfulness around his waist.

⁶Wolves will live with lambs.

Leopards will lie down with goats.

Calves and lions will eat together.

And little children will lead them around.

⁷Cows will eat with bears.

Their little ones will lie down together.

And lions will eat straw like oxen.

⁸A baby will play near a hole where cobras live.

A young child will put his hand into a nest

where poisonous snakes live.

⁹None of those animals will harm or destroy anything or anyone

on my holy mountain of Zion.

The oceans are full of water.

In the same way, the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the Lord.