1 N ow gather thyself together, O daughter of troops, A siege he hath laid against us, With a rod they smite on the cheek the judge of Israel.

Now 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 A nd thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth of old, From the days of antiquity.

But 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 he doth give them out till the time She who bringeth forth hath brought forth, And the remnant of his brethren return to the sons of Israel.

Therefore 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 hath stood and delighted in the strength of Jehovah, In the excellency of the name of Jehovah his God, And they have remained, For now he is great unto the ends of earth.

And 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 hath been peace, Asshur! when he doth come into our land, And when he doth tread in our palaces, We have raised against him seven shepherds, And eight anointed of man.

And 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 have afflicted the land of Asshur with the sword, And the land of Nimrod at its openings, And he hath delivered from Asshur when he doth come into our land, And when he treadeth in our borders.

And 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 A nd the remnant of Jacob hath been in the midst of many peoples, As dew from Jehovah -- as showers on the herb, That waiteth not for man, nor stayeth for the sons of men.

Then 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 Y ea, the remnant of Jacob hath been among nations, In the midst of many peoples, As a lion among beasts of a forest, As a young lion among ranks of a flock, Which if it hath passed through, Hath both trodden down and hath torn, And there is no deliverer.

And 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 H igh is thy hand above thine adversaries, And all thine enemies are cut off.

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

10 A nd it hath come to pass in that day, An affirmation of Jehovah, I have cut off thy horses from thy midst, And I have destroyed thy chariots,

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

11 A nd I have cut off the cities of thy land, And I have thrown down all thy fortresses,

And I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.

12 A nd have cut off sorcerers out of thy hand, And observers of clouds thou hast none.

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

13 A nd I have cut off thy graven images, And thy standing-pillars out of thy midst, And thou dost not bow thyself any more To the work of thy hands.

Your 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 have plucked up thy shrines out of thy midst, And I have destroyed thine enemies.

And I will root out your Asherim and I will destroy your cities.

15 A nd I have done vengeance in anger and in fury, With the nations who have not hearkened!

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