Micah 5
International Children’s Bible
5 So, strong city, gather your soldiers together.
We are surrounded and attacked.
The enemy will swing his club.
He will hit the leader of Israel in the face.
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are one of the smallest towns in Judah.
But from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
He comes from very old times,
from days long ago.”
3 The Lord will leave his people in Babylon
until Jerusalem, who is in labor, gives birth to her children.
Then his brothers who are in captivity will return.
They will come back to the people of Israel living in Judah.
4 Then the ruler of Israel will stand
and take care of his people.
He will lead them with the Lord’s power.
He will lead them in the wonderful name of the Lord his God.
They will live in safety.
And his greatness will be known all over the earth.
5 He will bring peace.
Rescue and Punishment
The Assyrian army will come into our country.
They will destroy our large houses.
But we will choose seven or eight leaders.
They will shepherd our people.
6 They will destroy the Assyrians with their swords.
They will conquer the land of Assyria with their swords drawn.
The Assyrians will come into our land.
They will come within our borders.
But the leaders of Israel
will save us from them.
7 Then the people of Jacob who are left alive
will be like dew from the Lord to many people.
They will be like rain which does not wait for man.
They will be like showers which do not wait for human beings.
8 Those left alive of Jacob’s people
will be scattered among the nations.
They will be among many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest.
They will be like a young lion going through the flock.
He steps on what is in his way.
No one can save the nations from God’s people.
9 So you will raise your fist in victory over your enemies,
and you will destroy them.
10 The Lord says, “At that time,
I will take your horses from you.
I will destroy your chariots.
11 I will destroy the walled cities in your country.
I will tear down all your defenses.
12 You will no longer be able to do witchcraft.
You will not have anyone who can tell the future.
13 I will destroy your statues of false gods.
I will tear down the stone pillars you worship.
You will no longer worship
what your hands have made.
14 I will destroy the Asherah idols.
I will destroy your cities.
15 Some people won’t obey me.
I will show my anger and punish them.”
Micah 5
Legacy Standard Bible
The Ruler Will Come from Bethlehem
5 “[a]Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
[b]They have laid siege against us;
With a rod they will (A)strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 [c]But as for (B)you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From (C)you One will go forth for Me to be (D)ruler in Israel.
[d]His goings forth are (E)from everlasting,
From the ancient days.”
3 Therefore He will (F)give them up until the time
When she (G)who is in childbirth has borne a child.
Then the (H)remainder of His brothers
Will return to the sons of Israel.
4 And He will stand and (I)shepherd His flock
In the strength of Yahweh,
In the majesty of the name of Yahweh His God.
And they will [e]remain
Because [f]at that time He will be great
To the (J)ends of the earth.
5 And this One (K)will be peace.
When the (L)Assyrian enters our land,
When he treads on our [g]citadels,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight princes of men.
6 And they will (M)shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
The land of (N)Nimrod at its entrances;
And He will (O)deliver us from the Assyrian
When he enters our land
And when he treads within our borders.
7 Then the (P)remnant of Jacob
Will be among many peoples
Like (Q)dew from Yahweh,
Like (R)showers on vegetation
Which do not hope for man
Or wait for the sons of men.
8 Then the remnant of Jacob
Will be among the nations,
Among many peoples
(S)Like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Which, if it passes through,
(T)Tramples down and (U)tears,
And there is (V)none to deliver.
9 Your hand will be (W)raised up against your adversaries,
And all your enemies will be cut off.
10 “And it will be in that day,” declares Yahweh,
“(X)That I will cut off your (Y)horses from among you
And destroy your chariots.
11 And I will cut off the (Z)cities of your land
And pull down all your (AA)fortifications.
12 And I will cut off (AB)sorceries from your hand,
And you will have soothsaying no more.
13 (AC)And I will cut off your graven images
And your sacred pillars from among you
So that you will no longer worship
The work of your hands.
14 And I will uproot your [h](AD)Asherim from among you
And [i]eradicate your cities.
15 And I will (AE)execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not [j](AF)listened.”
Footnotes
- Micah 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Heb
- Micah 5:1 Lit He has
- Micah 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Heb
- Micah 5:2 Or His appearances are from long ago, from days of old
- Micah 5:4 Or live in safety
- Micah 5:4 Lit now
- Micah 5:5 Or palaces
- Micah 5:14 Wooden symbols of a female deity
- Micah 5:14 Or destroy
- Micah 5:15 Or heard
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