2But you, Bethlehem in Ephrathah,
small as you are to be among Judah's clans,
out of you shall come forth a governor for Israel,
one whose roots are far back in the past, in days gone by.
3Therefore only so long as a woman is in labour
shall he give up Israel;
and then those that survive of his race
shall rejoin their brethren.
4He shall appear and be their shepherd
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall continue, for now his greatness shall reach
to the ends of the earth;
(5a) and he shall be a man of peace.
5 (5b) When the Assyrian comes into our land,
when he tramples our castles,
we will raise against him seven men or eight
to be shepherds and princes.
6They shall shepherd Assyria with the sword
and the land of Nimrod with bare blades;
they shall deliver us from the Assyrians
when they come into our land,
when they trample our frontiers.
7All that are left of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples,
shall be like dew from the LORD,
like copious showers on the grass,
which do not wait for man's command
or linger for any man's bidding.
8All that are left of Jacob among the nations,
surrounded by many peoples,
shall be like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion loose in a flock of sheep;
as he prowls he will trample and tear them,
with no rescuer in sight.
9Your hand shall be raised high over your foes,
and all who hate you shall be destroyed.
10On that day, says the LORD,
I will destroy all your horses among you
and make away with your chariots.
11I will destroy the cities of your land
and raze your fortresses.
12I will destroy all your sorcerers,
and there shall be no more soothsayers among you.
13I will destroy your images and all the sacred pillars in your land;
you shall no longer bow in reverence before things your own hands made.
14I will pull down the sacred poles in your land,
and demolish your blood-spattered altars.
15In anger and fury will I take vengeance
on all nations who disobey me.
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