Micah 5

5So, 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.

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

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.”

³The 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.

⁴At that time the ruler of Israel will stand

and take care of his people

with the Lord’s strength

and with the power of the name of the Lord his God.

The Israelites will live in safety,

because his greatness will reach all over the earth.

⁵He will bring peace.

Rescue and Punishment

Assyria will surely come into our country

and walk over our large buildings.

We will set up seven shepherds,

eight leaders of the people.

⁶They will destroy the Assyrians with their swords;

they will conquer the land of Assyria with their swords drawn.

They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land,

when they walk over our borders.

⁷Then the people of Jacob who are left alive

will be to other people

like dew from the Lord

or rain on the grass—

it does not wait for human beings;

it does not pause for any person.

⁸Those of Jacob’s people who are left alive

will be scattered among many nations and peoples.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion in a flock of sheep:

As it goes, it jumps on them

and tears them to pieces,

and no one can save them.

⁹So you will raise your fist in victory over your enemies,

and all your enemies will be destroyed.

¹⁰The Lord says, “At that time,

I will take your horses from you

and destroy your chariots.

¹¹I will destroy the cities in your country

and tear down all your defenses.

¹²I will take away the magic charms you use

so you will have no more fortune-tellers.

¹³I will destroy your statues of gods

and the stone pillars you worship

so that you will no longer worship

what your hands have made.

¹⁴I will tear down Asherah idols from you

and destroy your cities.

¹⁵In my anger and rage,

I will pay back the nations that have not listened.”