Micah 5:2–15

²The 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.

³The 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.

⁴The promised ruler will stand firm

and take care of his flock.

The Lord will give him the strength to do it.

The Lord his God will give him

the authority to rule.

His people will live safely.

His greatness will reach

from one end of the earth to the other.

⁵And he will bring them peace.

The Lord Will Save His People From Their Enemies

The Assyrians will attack our land.

Enemies will march through our forts.

But we will raise up many shepherds against them.

We’ll send out against them

as many leaders as we need to.

⁶They will use their swords to rule over Assyria.

They’ll rule the land of Nimrod

with swords that are ready to strike.

The Assyrians will march across our borders

and attack our land.

But the promised ruler will save us from them.

⁷Jacob’s people who are still left alive

will be scattered among many nations.

They will be like dew the Lord has sent.

It doesn’t wait for a man’s command.

They will be like rain that falls on the grass.

Rain doesn’t wait for someone to give it orders.

⁸So Jacob’s people will be scattered

among many nations.

They will be like a lion

among the animals in the forest.

They’ll be like a young lion

among flocks of sheep.

Lions attack and tear as they move along.

No one can keep them

from killing what they want.

⁹Lord, your powerful hand will win the battle

over your enemies.

All of them will be destroyed.

¹⁰“At that time I will destroy

your war horses,” announces the Lord.

“I will smash your chariots.

¹¹I will destroy the cities in your land.

I will tear down all of your forts.

¹²I will destroy your worship of evil powers.

You will no longer be able

to put a spell on anyone.

¹³I will destroy the statues of your gods.

I will take your sacred stones away from you.

You will no longer bow down

to the gods your hands have made.

¹⁴I will pull down the poles you used

to worship the goddess Asherah.

And I will destroy your cities completely.

¹⁵I will pay back the nations

that have not obeyed me.

My anger will burn against them.”