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So, ·strong city [L daughter of troops], ·gather [marshal; muster] your ·soldiers [troops] together,
    because we are ·surrounded and attacked [besieged].
They will ·hit [strike] the ·leader [ruler; judge] of Israel
    ·in the face [on the cheek] with a ·club [rod; or scepter].

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are ·too small to be [or small; insignificant] among the ·army groups from [clans of] Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me [C the Messiah; Is. 9:1–7; 11:1–16; Matt. 2:6].
    ·He comes [His origins are; L His goings out are] from ·very old [ancient] times,
from days long ago.”

The Lord will ·give up [abandon] his people
    until the one who is ·having a baby [in labor] gives birth;
then the rest of his ·relatives [brothers] will return
    to the people of Israel.
At that time ·the ruler of Israel [L he] will stand
    and ·take care of his people [L shepherd his flock]
with the Lord’s strength
    and with the ·power [majesty] of the name of the Lord his God.
·The Israelites [L They] will live in safety,
    because his greatness will reach ·all over [L to the ends of] the earth.

Rescue and Punishment

He will ·bring [L be] peace.
·Assyria will surely [or When the Assyrians…; or If the Assyrians should…] come into our ·country [land]
    and ·walk over [march through] our ·large buildings [fortresses].
We will ·set up [raise against them] seven shepherds [C symbolic of completeness],
    eight ·leaders [princes] of the people.
They will ·destroy [or rule; shepherd] the Assyrians with their swords;
    they will ·conquer [or rule; shepherd] the land of ·Assyria [L Nimrod; C a famous hunter, said to have founded Assyria; Gen. 10:8–9] ·with their swords drawn [or at its gates].
They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land,
    when they ·walk [march] over our borders.

Then the ·people of Jacob who are left alive [remnant of Jacob]
    will be ·to other [L in the midst of many] people
like dew from the Lord
    or ·rain [showers] on the grass—
it does not wait for human beings;
    it does not pause for ·any person [L the sons/children of man/Adam].
·Those of Jacob’s people who are left alive [The remnant of Jacob]
    will be scattered among many nations and [L in the midst of many] peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
    like a young lion in a flock of sheep:
As it goes, it jumps on them
    and tears them to pieces,
    and no one can ·save [rescue] them.
So ·you will raise your fist in victory [L your hand will be lifted] over your ·enemies [adversaries],
    and all your enemies will be ·destroyed [L cut off].

10 The Lord says, “·At that time [L In that day],
    I will ·take [L cut off; destroy] your horses from you
    and destroy your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities in your ·country [land]
    and tear down all your ·defenses [strongholds; fortresses].
12 I will ·take away [destroy] ·the magic charms you use [your sorcery/witchcraft]
    so you will have no more fortune-tellers.
13 I will destroy your ·statues of gods [carved images]
    and the stone pillars you worship
so that you will no longer ·worship [bow down to]
    what your hands have made.
14 I will ·tear down [uproot your] ·Asherah idols [L Asherahs; C sacred trees or poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah] from you
    and destroy your cities.
15 In my anger and ·rage [wrath],
    I will ·pay back [seek vengeance on] the nations that have not ·listened [obeyed].”

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

[a]Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
    for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
    on the cheek(A) with a rod.

“But you, Bethlehem(B) Ephrathah,(C)
    though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler(D) over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,(E)
    from ancient times.”(F)

Therefore Israel will be abandoned(G)
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock(H)
    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(I)
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

And he will be our peace(J)
    when the Assyrians invade(K) our land
    and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
    even eight commanders,(L)
who will rule[c] the land of Assyria with the sword,
    the land of Nimrod(M) with drawn sword.[d](N)
He will deliver us from the Assyrians
    when they invade our land
    and march across our borders.(O)

The remnant(P) of Jacob will be
    in the midst of many peoples
like dew(Q) from the Lord,
    like showers on the grass,(R)
which do not wait for anyone
    or depend on man.
The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
    in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,(S)
    like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles(T) as it goes,
    and no one can rescue.(U)
Your hand will be lifted up(V) 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.(W)
11 I will destroy the cities(X) of your land
    and tear down all your strongholds.(Y)
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
    and you will no longer cast spells.(Z)
13 I will destroy your idols(AA)
    and your sacred stones from among you;(AB)
you will no longer bow down
    to the work of your hands.(AC)
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles[e](AD)
    when I demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance(AE) in anger and wrath
    on the nations that have not obeyed me.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:14, and 5:2-15 is numbered 5:1-14.
  2. Micah 5:2 Or rulers
  3. Micah 5:6 Or crush
  4. Micah 5:6 Or Nimrod in its gates
  5. Micah 5:14 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah