^2 [d]“As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    even though you remain least among the clans^[e] of Judah,
nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me
    will emerge from you.
His existence has been^[f] from antiquity,
    even from eternity.
³ Therefore that ruler^[g] will abandon them
    until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his countrymen will return to the Israelis.”

“When the Assyrian invades our land,
    trampling through our palaces,
we will raise up seven shepherds against him,
    even eight significant men.
⁶ The shepherds^[j] will devastate the land of Assyria with the sword,
    along with the entrances to the land of Nimrod.

¹⁰ “It will come about at that time,” declares the Lord,
    “I will tear away your horses from you,
        and I will destroy your chariots.
¹¹ I will cut off the cities of your land,
    and I will tear down all of your fortifications.
¹² I will render your witchcraft powerless,^[m]
    and mediums will no longer exist among you.
¹³ I will separate you from your carved images and sacred pillars,
    and you no longer will worship
        what you’ve made with your hands.
¹⁴ I will uproot your cultic gods^[n] from you,
    and I will tear down your cities.
¹⁵ I will execute vengeance, anger, and fury
    on the nations who do not obey.”