1 N ow gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon 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 thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

“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 will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto 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 in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto 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 man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal 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 waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within 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 A nd the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth 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 Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

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 T hine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine 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 it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy 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 thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:

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

12 A nd I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

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

13 T hy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine 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 pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.

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

15 A nd I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

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