5:1 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
5:3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock 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 will reach to the ends of the earth.
5:5 And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.
5:6 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders.
5:7 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.
5:8 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 mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.
5:9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.
5:10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.
5:11 I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
5:12 I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.
5:13 I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.
5:14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles and demolish your cities.
5:15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”
5:1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; / He has laid a siege against us. / With a rod they strike on the cheek / The Judge of Israel.
5:2 (But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, / So little to be among the thousands of Judah, / From you there will come forth to Me / He who is to be Ruler in Israel; / And His goings forth are from ancient times, / From the days of eternity.)
5:3 Therefore He will give them up until the time / When she who is in labor delivers the child; / Then the remainder of His brothers will return, / Along with the children of Israel.
5:4 And He will stand and feed His flock in the strength of Jehovah, / In the majesty of the name of Jehovah His God; / And they will abide, for now He will be great / Unto the ends of the earth.
5:5 And this One will be the peace. / When Assyria comes into our land / And when he treads in our palaces, / We will raise up against him seven shepherds / And eight princes of men.
5:6 And they will waste the land of Assyria with the sword / And the land of Nimrod at its entrances. / And He will save us from Assyria, / When he comes into our land / And when he treads in our border.
5:7 And the remnant of Jacob will be / In the midst of many peoples / Like dew from Jehovah, / Like abundant showers upon the herbage, / Which do not tarry for man / And do not wait for the sons of men.
5:8 And 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 the flocks of sheep, / Who, if he should pass through, tramples under / And tears up, and there is none to deliver from him.
5:9 Your hand will be raised up against your adversaries, / And all your enemies will be cut off.
5:10 In that day, / Declares Jehovah, / I will cut off your horses from the midst of you / And will destroy your chariots.
5:11 And I will cut off the cities of your land / And will throw down all your strongholds.
5:12 And I will cut off the sorceries from your hand, / And you will not have soothsayers.
5:13 And I will cut off your idols / And your pillars from your midst; / And you will no longer worship / The work of your hands.
5:14 And I will pluck up your Asherahs from your midst, / And I will destroy your cities.
5:15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath / Upon the nations that have not listened.