Add parallel Print Page Options

The Ruler Will Come from Bethlehem

[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.
[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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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

  1. Micah 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Heb
  2. Micah 5:1 Lit He has
  3. Micah 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Heb
  4. Micah 5:2 Or His appearances are from long ago, from days of old
  5. Micah 5:4 Or live in safety
  6. Micah 5:4 Lit now
  7. Micah 5:5 Or palaces
  8. Micah 5:14 Wooden symbols of a female deity
  9. Micah 5:14 Or destroy
  10. Micah 5:15 Or heard

Call to arms; the future is secure

[a] Now muster your troops, Daughter Troop![b]
        They have laid siege against us;
        with a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces,
        one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you.
    His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.
Therefore, he will give them up
        until the time when she who is in labor gives birth.
        The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel.
He will stand and shepherd his flock[c] in the strength of the Lord,
        in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
        They will dwell secure,
        because he will surely become great throughout the earth;
        he will become one of peace.[d]
When Assyria invades our land and treads down our fortresses,
        then we will raise up against him seven shepherds and eight human princes.
They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
        the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword.
    He will rescue us from Assyria
        when he invades our land
            and treads within our territory.
Then the few remaining in Jacob will be amid many peoples
        like dew from the Lord,
        like spring showers upon the grass,
            which does not hope for humans or wait for human ones.
Then the few remaining in Jacob will be among the nations,
            amid many peoples,
        like a lion among the creatures of the forest,
        like a young lion among flocks
            of sheep, which when it passes by, tramples and tears to pieces
                with no one to deliver.
Your hand will be lifted over your foes;
        all your enemies will be cut off.

Doom for Israel’s enemies

10 On that day—says the Lord
        I will cut down your horses in your midst;
        I will destroy your chariots!
11 I will cut down the cities of your land;
        I will tear down your defenses!
12 I will demolish the sorceries you perform;
        you will have no more diviners!
13 I will cut down your images
        and your sacred pillars in your midst.
        You will no longer bow down to the works of your hands!
14 I will tear down your sacred poles[e] in your midst;
        I will destroy your cities!
15 I will exact vengeance in anger
        and in wrath on the nations that don’t obey!

Footnotes

  1. Micah 5:1 4:14 in Heb
  2. Micah 5:1 Heb uncertain
  3. Micah 5:4 Heb lacks his flock.
  4. Micah 5:5 Or this will ensure peace.
  5. Micah 5:14 Heb asherim