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 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 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.

“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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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