1 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come one for me to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

2 Therefore, he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth, and the rest of his brothers will return to join the children of Israel.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

3 He 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 his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

4 And he will be their peace. When Assyria invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise up against them seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

5 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn blades. He will deliver us from Assyria when they invade our land and march across our borders.

And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

6 The 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 man nor depend on the sons of men.

And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

7 The 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 tramples and tears as it goes, and no one can rescue.

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

8 Your hand will be lifted up in victory over your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off.

And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

9 On that day, declares the LORD, I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots.

Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

10 I will demolish the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses.

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:

11 I will remove sorceries from your hand, and you will have no more soothsayers.

And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:

12 I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you, and you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.

And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

13 I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you and demolish your cities.

Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

14 In anger and wrath, I will execute vengeance on the nations that have not obeyed.

And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.