^{2 [a] (A)}But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of ^(B)Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ^(C)ruler in Israel,
^(D)whose coming forth is ^(E)from of old,
    from ancient days.

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

⁷ But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    ^(A)I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.

^18 (A)Who is a God like you, ^(B)pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    ^(C)for the remnant of his inheritance?
^(D)He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
¹⁹ He will ^(E)again have compassion on us;
    ^(F)he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
^(G)You will cast all our^[a] sins
    into the depths of the sea.
^20 (H)You will show faithfulness to Jacob
    and steadfast love to Abraham,
^(I)as you have sworn to our fathers
    from the days of old.