Micah 5

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

1. [a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops; 1 siege is laid against us; 1 with a rod they strike the judge of Israel 1 on the cheek.

2. [c] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 2 who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 2 from you shall come forth for me 2 one who is to be ruler in Israel, 2 whose coming forth is from of old, 2 from ancient days.

3. Therefore he shall give them up until the time 3 when she who is in labor has given birth; 3 then the rest of his brothers shall return 3 to the people of Israel.

4. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, 4 in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. 4 And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great 4 to the ends of the earth.

5. And he shall be their peace. 5 When the Assyrian comes into our land 5 and treads in our palaces, 5 then we will raise against him seven shepherds 5 and eight princes of men;

6. they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, 6 and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; 6 and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian 6 when he comes into our land 6 and treads within our border.

A Remnant Shall Be Delivered

7. Then the remnant of Jacob shall be 7 in the midst of many peoples 7 like dew from the Lord, 7 like showers on the grass, 7 which delay not for a man 7 nor wait for the children of man.

8. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, 8 in the midst of many peoples, 8 like a lion among the beasts of the forest, 8 like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, 8 which, when it goes through, treads down 8 and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.

9. Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, 9 and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10. And in that day, declares the Lord, 10 I will cut off your horses from among you 10 and will destroy your chariots;

11. and I will cut off the cities of your land 11 and throw down all your strongholds;

12. and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, 12 and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;

13. and I will cut off your carved images 13 and your pillars from among you, 13 and you shall bow down no more 13 to the work of your hands;

14. and I will root out your Asherah images from among you 14 and destroy your cities.

15. And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance 15 on the nations that did not obey.

Footnotes:
a. Micah 5:1: Ch 4:14 in Hebrew
b. Micah 5:1: That is, city
c. Micah 5:2: Ch 5:1 in Hebrew