A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

[a]Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
    for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
    on the cheek(A) with a rod.

“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)

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.

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.

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:14, and 5:2-15 is numbered 5:1-14.
  2. Micah 5:2 Or rulers

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

[a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops;
    siege is laid against us;
with a rod (A)they strike the judge of Israel
    on the cheek.
[c] (B)But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of (C)Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be (D)ruler in Israel,
(E)whose coming forth is (F)from of old,
    from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up (G)until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then (H)the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand (I)and shepherd his flock (J)in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now (K)he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be (L)their peace.

(M)When the Assyrian comes into our land
    and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven (N)shepherds
    and eight princes of men;

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew
  2. Micah 5:1 That is, city
  3. Micah 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew