The poem in today's Old Testament reading is called by Hans Wildberger a "pearl of Hebrew poetry." There is a breathtaking variety of images and metaphors: the shoot out of the stump, the branch out of the roots, the rod of the mouth, the breath of the lips and righteousness as a belt around the waist (vv.1-5). This is followed by the description of a pastoral scene in which a variety of animals are paired to convey an image of peace: the wolf, leopard, young lion, bear, lion, viper and young viper are juxtaposed with lamb, kid, calf, cow, ox, nursing child and weaned child. By making use of such traditional images, Isaiah skillfully attracts the attention of an audience politically and economically beleaguered with a messianic message of hope: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of t…