5
A Ruler from Bethlehem
(Matthew 2:1–12)
1 Now, O daughter of troops,
mobilize your troops;
for a siege is laid against us!
With a rod they will strike the cheek
of the judge of Israel.
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are small among the clans * Or thousands of Judah,
out of you will come forth for Me
One to be ruler over Israel † Cited in Matthew 2:6—
One whose origins are of old,
from the days of eternity.
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of His brothers will return
to the children of Israel.
4 He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD His God.
And they will dwell securely,
for then His greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
5 And He will be our peace ‡ Or their peace
when Assyria invades our land
and tramples our citadels.
We will raise against it seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.
6 And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn.
So He will deliver us
when Assyria invades our land
and marches into our borders.
The Remnant of Jacob
(Micah 2:12–13)
7 Then the remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for man
or linger for mankind.
8 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which tramples and tears as it passes through,
with no one to rescue them.
9 Your hand will be lifted over your foes,
and all your enemies will be cut off.
10 “In that day,”
declares the LORD,
“I will remove your horses from among you
and wreck your chariots.
11 I will remove the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.
12 I will cut the sorceries from your hand,
and you will have no fortune-tellers.
13 I will also cut off the carved images
and sacred pillars from among you,
so that you will no longer bow down
to the work of your own hands.
14 I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst
and demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.”