1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,

for a siege is laid against us.

They will strike Israel’s ruler

on the cheek with a rod.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned

until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,

and the rest of his brothers return

to join the Israelites.

1 Now 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.

2 But thou, Beth-lehem 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.

3 Therefore 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.

1  Mobilize! Marshal your troops!

The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem.

They will strike Israel’s leader

in the face with a rod.

2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel

whose origins are in the distant past,

will come from you on my behalf.

3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies

until the woman in labor gives birth.

Then at last his fellow countrymen

will return from exile to their own land.

1 Now gather yourself in troops,

O daughter of troops;

He has laid siege against us;

They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.”

3 Therefore He shall give them up,

Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;

Then the remnant of His brethren

Shall return to the children of Israel.

1 So, strong city, gather your soldiers together,

because we are surrounded and attacked.

They will hit the leader of Israel

in the face with a club.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah,

from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.

He comes from very old times,

from days long ago.”

3 The Lord will give up his people

until the one who is having a baby gives birth;

then the rest of his relatives will return

to the people of Israel.

1 Now shalt thou 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.

2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

1 Now 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. 2 (And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity.) 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time when she which travaileth shall have brought forth: and the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

1 Now, gather your troops, you city of troops. 

We are under attack. 

Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick. 

2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. 

Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. 

His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. 

3 That is why the Lord will abandon Israel 

until the time a mother has a child. 

Then the rest of the Lord’s people will return to the people of Israel. 

1 Now, daughter who is under attack,

you slash yourself in grief;

a siege is set against us!

They are striking the judge of Israel

on the cheek with a rod.

2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,

you are small among the clans of Judah;

One will come from you

to be ruler over Israel for Me.

His origin is from antiquity,

from eternity.

3 Therefore, He will abandon them until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of His brothers will return

to the people of Israel.

1 Now you are walled around with a wall;

siege is laid against us;

with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel

upon the cheek.

2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return

to the people of Israel.

1  Now muster troops, O daughter of troops;

a siege he puts against us.

They strike the ruler of Israel

with a rod on the cheek.

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

too small to be among the clans of Judah,

from you one will go out for me,

to be ruler in Israel;

and his origins are from of old,

from ancient days.

3 Therefore he will give them up

until the time of she who is with child has given birth.

And the rest of his brothers will return

to the children of Israel.

1 Jerusalem, you are being attacked

So bring your troops together.

Our enemies have surrounded us.

They want to slap the face of Israel’s ruler.

2 The Lord says,

“Bethlehem, you might not be

an important town in the nation of Judah.

But out of you will come

a ruler over Israel for me.

His family line goes back

to the early years of your nation.

It goes all the way back

to days of long ago.”

Bethlehem was also called Ephrathah.

3 The Lord will hand his people over to their enemies.

That will last until the promised ruler is born.

Then his relatives in Judah

will return to their land.

The Lord will rule over them

and the people of Israel.

1 “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 “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 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.