Micah 5

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

5^aMarshal your troops now, city of troops,

for a siege is laid against us.

They will strike Israel’s ruler

on the cheek^h with a rod.

²“But you, Bethlehemⁱ Ephrathah,^j

though you are small among the clans^b of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler^k over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,^l

from ancient times.”^m

³Therefore Israel will be abandonedⁿ

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

and the rest of his brothers return

to join the Israelites.

⁴He will stand and shepherd his flock^o

in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness^p

will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵And he will be our peace^q

when the Assyrians invade^r our land

and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

even eight commanders,^s

⁶who will rule^c the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod^t with drawn sword.^du

He will deliver us from the Assyrians

when they invade our land

and march across our borders.^v

⁷The remnant^w of Jacob will be

in the midst of many peoples

like dew^x from the Lord,

like showers on the grass,^y

which do not wait for anyone

or depend on man.

⁸The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples,

like a lion among the beasts of the forest,^z

like a young lion among flocks of sheep,

which mauls and mangles^a as it goes,

and no one can rescue.^b

⁹Your hand will be lifted up^c in triumph over your enemies,

and all your foes will be destroyed.

¹⁰“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will destroy your horses from among you

and demolish your chariots.^d

¹¹I will destroy the cities^e of your land

and tear down all your strongholds.^f

¹²I will destroy your witchcraft

and you will no longer cast spells.^g

¹³I will destroy your idols^h

and your sacred stones from among you;ⁱ

you will no longer bow down

to the work of your hands.^j

¹⁴I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles^ek

when I demolish your cities.

¹⁵I will take vengeance^l in anger and wrath

on the nations that have not obeyed me.”