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!

“But now, [you people of Jerusalem, gather your troops together, ] [because even though] you have a wall [around your city to protect it], [enemy soldiers] are surrounding the city. And [soon] they will strike your leader on his face, 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 you [people of] [APO] Bethlehem in Ephrathah [district need to know that] even though your [town] is a very small one among all the towns in Judah, someone who will rule Israel will be born in your town. [He will be] someone whose family has existed a very long time ago [DOU].

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.

[But now] you people of Israel will be conquered by your enemies; [but it will be for only a short time], like [MET] [the short time that] women have great pain while their babies are being born. After that, your fellow-countrymen who were (exiled/forced to go to other countries) will return to their own country.

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;

And that man who will be ruling [there in Jerusalem] will stand and lead his people well, because Yahweh, his God, will cause him to be strong and greatly honored. Then the people whom he rules will live [in Jerusalem] safely; he will be greatly honored by people all over the earth, [so no one will dare to attack Jerusalem].

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.

And he will cause things to go well [for his people]. When [the army of] Assyria attacks our country and breaks though our fortresses, we will appoint (seven or eight/several) leaders [to lead our army] to fight against them.

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.

With their swords [our army] will defeat the [army of] Assyria, [whose capital was founded by] Nimrod [long ago]. So our army will rescue us from the Assyrian [army] when they invade our country [DOU].

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.

The (descendants of Jacob/Israelis) who survive will be [a blessing] to the people of other nations, like [SIM] dew and rain sent by Yahweh do good to the grass. The Israelis will not trust in humans [to help them]; instead, they will rely on Yahweh.

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.

In the midst of [their enemies in] many people-groups [DOU], the descendants of Jacob who remain alive will be like [SIM] a lion among the [other] wild beasts of the forest, like [SIM] a young lion who goes among a flock of sheep and pounces [on one] and (mauls it/tears it to pieces), and no one will be able to rescue [that sheep].

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

You Israelis will defeat [MTY] all your enemies and completely destroy them.

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;

Yahweh says, “At that time, I will destroy [you Israeli people’s] horses [that your soldiers use in war] and 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 destroy all your fortified cities.

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

I will get rid of all those among you who practice magic and the (fortune-tellers/those who say that they can predict what will happen in the future).

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 destroy [all] your idols and [sacred stone] pillars, and then you will no longer bow down [and worship] things that you yourselves [SYN] have made.

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

I will get rid of your poles [that represent the goddess] Asherah, and [I will also] destroy all your idols.

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

And because I will be very angry, I will [also] punish [the people of] all the nations who have not obeyed [me].”