Micah 5

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

1 Marshal your troops, O 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 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.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

4 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 then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And he will be their peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land
and marches through our fortresses,
we will raise against him seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.

Deliverance and Destruction

6 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.
He will deliver us from the Assyrian
when he invades our land
and marches into our borders.

7 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
or linger for mankind.

8 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 mauls and mangles as it goes,
and no one can rescue.

9 Your 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.

11 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.

12 I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.

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

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

15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”

MICAH 5

A Promised Ruler

1 Jerusalem, enemy troops
have surrounded you;t
they have struck Israel's ruler
in the face with a stick.

2  t Bethlehem Ephrath,
you are one of the smallest towns
in the nation of Judah.
But the [Lord] will choose
one of your people
to rule the nation—
someone whose family
goes back to ancient times.t

3 The [Lord] will abandon Israel
only until this ruler is born,
and the rest of his familyt
returns to Israel.

4 Like a shepherd
taking care of his sheep,
this ruler will lead
and care for his people
by the power and glorious name
of the [Lord] his God.
His people will live securely,
and the whole earth will know
his true greatness,

5 because he will bring peace.

Assyria Will Be Defeated

6  t whose strong army will defeat
the nation of Assyria.t
Yes, our leaders will rescue us,
if those Assyrians
dare to invade our land.

The Survivors Will Be Safe

7 A few of Jacob's descendants
survived and are scattered
among the nations.
But the [Lord] will let them
cover the earth like dew and rain
that refreshes the soil.

8 At present they are scattered,
but later they will attack,
as though they were fierce lions
pouncing on sheep.
Their enemies will be torn
to shreds,
with no one to save them;

9 they will be helpless,
completely destroyed.

Idols Will Be Destroyed //in Israel

10 The [Lord] said:
At that time I will wipe out
your cavalry and chariots,

11 as well as your cities
and your fortresses.

12 I will stop you
from telling fortunes
and practicing witchcraft.

13 You will no longer worship
the idols or stone images
you have made—
I will destroy them,

14 together with the sacred polest
and even your towns.

15 I will become furious
and take revenge on the nations
that refuse to obey me.