Micah 5

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

^*Marshal your troops now, city of troops,

for a siege is laid against us.

They will strike Israel’s ruler

on the cheek^a with a rod.

^*“But you, Bethlehem^b Ephrathah,^c

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler^d over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,^e

from ancient times.”^f

Therefore Israel will be abandoned^g

until the time when she who is in labor gives birth

and the rest of his brothers return

to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock^h

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 greatnessⁱ

will reach to the ends of the earth.

And he will be our peace^j

when the Assyrians invade^k our land

and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

even eight commanders,^l

who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod^m with drawn sword.ⁿ

He will deliver us from the Assyrians

when they invade our land

and march into our borders.^o

The remnant^p of Jacob will be

in the midst of many peoples

like dew^q from the Lord,

like showers on the grass,^r

which do not wait for mortals

or depend on any human being.

The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples,

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

like a young lion among flocks of sheep,

which mauls and mangles^t as it goes,

and no one can rescue.^u

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

and all your foes will be destroyed.

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will destroy your horses from among you

and demolish your chariots.^w

I will destroy the cities^x of your land

and tear down all your strongholds.^y

I will destroy your witchcraft

and you will no longer cast spells.^z

I will destroy your idols^a

and your sacred stones from among you;^b

you will no longer bow down

to the work of your hands.^c

I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles^d

when I demolish your cities.

I will take vengeance^e in anger and wrath

on the nations that have not obeyed me.”