1 “ 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

“ Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.

2 “ 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.”

“ But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

3 H e 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.

Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.

4 A nd 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.

And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.

5 A nd 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.

This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

6 T hey 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.

They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of Nimrod at its entrances; And He will deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory.

7 T hen 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.

Then the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on vegetation Which do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men.

8 T hose 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.

The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations, Among many peoples Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through, Tramples down and tears, And there is none to rescue.

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

Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, And all your enemies will be cut off.

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

“It will be in that day,” declares the Lord, “ That I will cut off your horses from among you And destroy your chariots.

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

“I will also cut off the cities of your land And tear down all your fortifications.

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

“I will cut off sorceries from your hand, And you will have fortune-tellers no more.

13 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.

“ I will cut off your carved images And your sacred pillars from among you, So that you will no longer bow down To the work of your hands.

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

“I will root out your Asherim from among you And destroy your cities.

15 A nd in My anger I will punish the nations that have not obeyed.”

“And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath On the nations which have not obeyed.”