1Now gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
2But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you will come for me one who is to be ruler in Israel. His goings out have been from of old, from everlasting.
3So he will give them up until the time when she who is in labour has given birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel.
4He will stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live safely, for now he will be great to the ends of the earth.
5And this man will be the peace, when the Assyrian comes into our land and walks in our palaces. Then we will raise up against him seven shepherds, and eight chief men.
6They will lay waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its gates. So he will save us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land and walks inside our borders.
7And the rest of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men.
8And the rest of Jacob will be among the Gentiles, in the middle of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep. When he passes through, he tramples and tears in pieces, and no one can rescue.
9Your hand will be lifted up against those who oppose you, and all your enemies will be cut off.
10"In that day," says the LORD, "I will cut off your horses from among you, and I will destroy your chariots."
11"I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strongholds."
12"I will cut the witchcraft out of your hand, and you will have no more fortune-tellers."
13"I will cut off your carved images and your standing images from among you, and you will no longer worship the work of your hands."
14"I will tear up your groves from among you, and I will destroy your cities."
15"And I will take vengeance in anger and fury on the nations, such as they have not heard of."