² “But you, Bethlehem^(B) Ephrathah,^(C)
    though you are small among the clans^[b] 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)

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned^(G)
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ 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 greatness^(I)
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ 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)
6 who will rule^[c] the land of Assyria with the sword,
    the land of Nimrod^(M) with drawn sword.^[d](N)
He will deliver us from the Assyrians
    when they invade our land
    and march across our borders.^(O)

⁷ 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 anyone
    or depend on man.
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,^(S)
    like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles^(T) as it goes,
    and no one can rescue.^(U)
9 Your hand will be lifted up^(V) in triumph over your enemies,
    and all your foes will be destroyed.

“I will destroy your horses from among you
    and demolish your chariots.^(W)
11 I will destroy the cities^(X) of your land
    and tear down all your strongholds.^(Y)
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
    and you will no longer cast spells.^(Z)
13 I will destroy your idols^(AA)
    and your sacred stones from among you;^(AB)
you will no longer bow down
    to the work of your hands.^(AC)
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles^[e](AD)
    when I demolish your cities.
¹⁵ I will take vengeance^(AE) in anger and wrath
    on the nations that have not obeyed me.”