1 N ow gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; a state of siege has been placed against us. They shall smite the ruler of Israel with a rod (a scepter) on the cheek.

2 B ut you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

3 T herefore shall He give them up until the time that she who travails has brought forth; then what is left of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel.

4 A nd He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall dwell, for then shall He be great to the ends of the earth.

5 A nd this shall be our peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads upon our soil and in our palaces, then will we raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes among men.

6 A nd they shall rule and waste the land of Assyria with the sword and the land of Nimrod within her gates. Thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and when he treads on our borders.

7 T hen the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers upon the grass which tarry not for man nor wait for the sons of men.

8 A nd the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations in the midst of many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no deliverer.

9 Y our hand will be lifted up above your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10 A nd in that day, says the Lord, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots.

11 A nd I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.

12 A nd I will cut off witchcrafts and sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers.

13 Y our carved images also I will cut off and your statues or pillars out of your midst, and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.

14 A nd I will root out your Asherim and I will destroy your cities.

15 A nd in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance upon the nations which would not obey.