Micah 5

1 Meanwhile, shalt thou gather together in troops, thou daughter of a troop, siege, hath he laid against us, —with a sceptre, will they smite on the cheek, the judge of Israel!

Gather your troops together, Jerusalem! An enemy is besieging us. They will strike Israel's leader on the cheek with a rod.

2 Thou, therefore, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though, little, to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee, shall Mine come forth, to be ruler in Israel, —whose comings forth, have been from of old, from the days of age-past time.

But from you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, (though you are only a small place in Judah), will come a ruler of Israel to do my will. His existence is from the ages of eternity past.

3 Therefore, will he give them up, until the time when, one who is to bring forth, hath brought forth, —and, the remainder of his brethren, return unto the sons of Israel.

So the Lord will give up on them until the woman in labor has given birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the people of Israel.

4 Then shall he stand, and tend his flock in the strength of Yahweh, In the excellency of the name of Yahweh his God, have they endured, —For, now, shall he be great unto the ends of the earth;

He will stand up and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will live in safety because his greatness is recognized all over the world.

5 So shall this one be Prosperity. As for Assyria—when he shall enter our land, and when he shall tread down in our palaces, then will we raise up against him, seven shepherds, and eight princes of mankind.

He will be our source of peace when the Assyrians invade our land and destroy our fortresses. Then we will appoint many strong leaders,

6 Then shall they shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof, —So shall he deliver from Assyria, when he shall enter our land, and when he shall tread down within our bounds.

and they will rule Assyria with their swords, the land of Nimrod with drawn swords. He shall rescue us from the Assyrians when they invade our land, marching across our borders.

7 And, the remnant of Jacob, shall be, in the midst of many peoples, as dew from Yahweh, as myriad drops on plants, —which tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of Adam.

Then those who are left of the people of Jacob shall be in the center of many nations, like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which wait for no one, and which no one can delay.

8 And, the remnant of Jacob, shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the jungle, as a young lion among flocks of sheep, —who, if he passeth by, both treadeth down—and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Those who are left of the people of Jacob shall be among many nations, in the center of many peoples. They will be like a lion among the wild animals of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, clawing and tearing as it passes through, with no one to come to the rescue.

9 Let thy hand be uplifted against thine adversaries, —and, all thine enemies, shall be cut off.

Lift your hand in triumph against your enemies; all of them will be destroyed.

10 And it shall come to pass, in that day, Declareth Yahweh, That I will cut off thy horses out of thy midst, —and will destroy thy chariots;

On that day, says the Lord, I will kill your horses and break your chariots.

11 And will cut off the cities of thy land, —and will pull down all thy fortresses;

I will tear down your city walls and demolish your fortresses.

12 And will cut off incantations, out of thy hand, —and, users of hidden arts, shalt thou not have;

I will stop the witchcraft you practice; there will be no more fortune-tellers for you.

13 And I will cut off thine images and thy pillars out of thy midst, —and thou shalt not bow thyself down, any more, to the work of thine own hands;

I will smash down the idols and stone pillars that stand among you: you shall not bow down and worship idols that you make with your own hands any more.

14 And I will uproot thy Sacred Stems out of thy midst, —and will destroy thy cities:

I will pull up the Asherah poles that you have and destroy your pagan places.

15 Then will I execute, with anger and with indignation, vengeance upon the nations, —of which they have not heard.

In anger and fury I will execute vengeance on those nations that do not obey me.