1[1] Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.2‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[2] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.4He will stand and shepherd his flock 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 will reach to the ends of the earth.5And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,6who will rule[3] the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.[4] He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.7The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man.8The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no-one can rescue.9Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.10‘In that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.11I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.12I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.13I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.14I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles[5] when I demolish your cities.15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.’
Micah 5
English Standard Version
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
1[1] Now muster your troops, O daughter[2] of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. (1Ki 22:24)2[3] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Ge 49:10; Ps 90:2; Pr 8:22; Isa 9:6; Jer 30:21; Ho 6:3; Zec 9:9; Mt 2:6; Joh 1:1; Joh 7:42; Heb 7:14)3Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. (Mic 4:7; Mic 4:9)4And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. (Ps 72:8; Isa 11:3; Isa 40:11; Isa 52:13; Mic 7:14; Lu 1:32)5And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; (2Ki 18:13; Isa 3:2; Isa 9:6; Zec 9:10; Eph 2:14)6they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. (Ge 10:8; Ge 10:10; Mic 5:5)
A Remnant Shall Be Delivered
7Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man. (Mic 5:3)8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. (Ho 5:14; Mic 5:3)9Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. (Isa 26:11)10And in that day, declares the Lord, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots; (Isa 2:7; Mic 4:1; Mic 4:6; Hag 2:22; Zec 9:10)11and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds; (Isa 17:9; Isa 27:10; Ho 8:14; Mic 5:14; Zec 2:4)12and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes; (De 18:10; 2Ki 9:22; Isa 2:6)13and I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands; (Isa 17:8; Ho 3:4; Zec 13:2)14and I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities. (Ex 34:13; De 16:21; Mic 5:11)15And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey. (Ps 149:7; Mic 5:8; 2Th 1:8)