1a “Now marshal yourselves as troops.b

He has laid siege to us.

They will strike the judgec of Israel on the cheek with a rod.”

The Ruler from Bethlehem

2d “As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

even though you remain least among the clanse of Judah,

nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me

will emerge from you.

His existence has beenf from antiquity,

even from eternity.

3Therefore that rulerg will abandon them

until the woman in labor gives birth.

Then the rest of his countrymen will return to the Israelis.”

4“Then he will take his stand,

shepherding by means of the strength of the LORD,

by the powerh of the name of the LORD his God.

And they will be firmlyi established;

indeed, from then on he will become great—

to the ends of the earth.

5And he will be our peace.”

God’s Judgment on Assyria

“When the Assyrian invades our land,

trampling through our palaces,

we will raise up seven shepherds against him,

even eight significant men.

6The shepherdsj will devastate the land of Assyria with the sword,

along with the entrances to the land of Nimrod.

“This is how he will vanquishk Assyria

when he invades our land,

trampling within our borders:

7The survivors of Jacob will live among many peoples,

as dew from the LORD,

as showers upon the grass.

They will look to no one,

and will place no hope in human beings.

8The survivors of Jacob will live among the nations;

they will live among many peoples,

like a lion among flocks of sheep,

who, if he passes through,

will trample and tear down

with no one to deliver.

9You will turn your powerl against your adversaries,

and all of your enemies will be cut down.”

God Removes Idolatry

10“It will come about at that time,” declares the LORD,

“I will tear away your horses from you,

and I will destroy your chariots.

11I will cut off the cities of your land,

and I will tear down all of your fortifications.

12I will render your witchcraft powerless,m

and mediums will no longer exist among you.

13I will separate you from your carved images and sacred pillars,

and you no longer will worship

what you’ve made with your hands.

14I will uproot your cultic godsn from you,

and I will tear down your cities.

15I will execute vengeance, anger, and fury

on the nations who do not obey.”