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.

“Now gather yourselves into armies, people of Israel. They are all around us with their army. They will hit the judge of Israel on the face. God’s Chosen One Will Come from Bethlehem

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).

“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are too little to be among the family groups of Judah. But from you One will come who will rule for Me in Israel. His coming was planned long ago, from the beginning.”

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.

He will give them up until the time when the woman in pain gives birth to a child. Then the rest of His brothers will return to the people 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.

And He will come and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the great power of the name of the Lord His God. His people will live there and be safe, because at that time He will 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.

And He will be their peace. Those Who Fight Israel Are Judged When the Assyrian comes into our land and crushes under foot our strong-places, we will fight against him with seven shepherds and eight leaders.

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.

They will rule the land of Assyria, the land of Nimrod, with the sword. And He will take us from the Assyrians when they come into our country and crush under foot our land.

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.

Then the people who are left of Jacob will be among many people like water on the ground in the early morning from the Lord, like rain on the grass, which does not wait for man.

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.

Those who are left of Jacob will be among the nations, among many people, like a lion among the animals in the woods, like a young lion among flocks of sheep. When he passes through, he crushes them and tears them to pieces, and there is no one to help them.

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

Your hand will be lifted up against those who hate you, and all of them will be destroyed.

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

“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will destroy your horses and your war-wagons from among you.

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

I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strong-places.

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

I will put an end to your witchcraft, and you will not have people telling your future any more.

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.

I will destroy your false gods and your pillars of worship, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.

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

I will pull up your wooden, female goddesses Asherah, and destroy your cities.

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

And in My anger I will punish the nations that have not obeyed.”