^2 [a]But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
    from ancient days.^(A)
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
    to the people of Israel.^(B)
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth,^(C)

⁸ Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,
    so that no one shall march to and fro;
no oppressor shall again overrun them,
    for now I have seen with my own eyes.^(A)

¹⁶ The nations shall see and be ashamed
    of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
    their ears shall be deaf;^(A)

⁸ Do not rejoice over me, my enemies;^[a]
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.^(A)

¹⁷ So you shall know that I, the Lord your God,
    dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
    and strangers shall never again pass through it.^(B)

¹⁵ The Lord of hosts will protect them,
    and they shall consume and conquer the slingers;^[a]
they shall drink their blood^[b] like wine
    and be full like a bowl,
    drenched like the corners of the altar.^(A)