1 Marshal your troops, O city of troops,1 5:1 Or Strengthen your walls, O walled city
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel's ruler
on the cheek with a rod. |
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans2 5:2 Or rulers of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins3 5:2 Hebrew goings out are from of old,
from ancient times.4 5:2 Or from days of eternity " |
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites. |
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD ,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth. |
5 And he will be their peace. |
6 They will rule5 5:6 Or crush the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.6 5:6 Or Nimrod in its gates
He will deliver us from the Assyrian
when he invades our land
and marches into our borders. |
7 The remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD ,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for man
or linger for mankind. |
8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles as it goes,
and no one can rescue. |
9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed. |
10 "In that day," declares the LORD , |
11 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds. |
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells. |
13 I will destroy your carved images
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands. |
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles7 5:14 That is, symbols of the goddess Asherah
and demolish your cities. |
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed me." |
