Day 3

 A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch.
The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, 
   the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, 
   the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.
Fear-of-God 
   will be all his joy and delight.
He won't judge by appearances, 
   won't decide on the basis of hearsay.
He'll judge the needy by what is right, 
   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.
Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, 
   and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.The wolf will romp with the lamb, 
   the leopard sleep with the kid.
Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, 
   and a little child will tend them.
Cow and bear will graze the same pasture, 
   their calves and cubs grow up together, 
   and the lion eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child will crawl over rattlesnake dens, 
   the toddler stick his hand down the hole of a serpent.
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.

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.

Isaiah 11:1-10

Day 2

The people who walked in darkness 
   have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— 
   light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation, 
   you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence! 
   Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration, 
   sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants— 
   all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance 
   as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops, 
   along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned, 
   a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us! 
   the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over 
   the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor, 
   Strong God,
Eternal Father, 
   Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow, 
   and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne 
   over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing 
   and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living, 
   beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies 
   will do all this.

 Isaiah 9: 2-7