5 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
2 “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.”
3 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.
4 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
5 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.
6 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.
7 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].
8 ·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.
9 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].”