1 Birth of the King in Bethlehem “Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops;A state of siege has been placed against us.They shall strike the ruler of Israel on the cheek with a rod (scepter).
2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah;From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel,His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago,FromLit the days of eternity.ancient days.”
3 Therefore, He will give them up until the timeWhen she who is in labor has given birth to a child.Then what is left of His kinsmenShall return to the children of Israel.
4 And He shall stand and shepherdandguideHis flockIn the strength of the L,In the majesty of the name of the LHis God;And they shall dwell [secure in undisturbed peace],Because at that time He shall be great [extending His authority][Even] to the ends of the earth.
5 This One [the Messiah] shall be our peace.hen the Assyrian invades our landAnd tramples on our citadelsandin our palaces,Then shall we raise against himSeven shepherds and eight princes [an overpowering force] among men.
6 They shall devastate the land of Assyria with the sword andThe land of Nimrod within her [own] gates.And He (the Messiah) shall rescue us from the Assyrian (all enemy nations)When he attacks our landAnd when he tramples our territory.
7 Then the remnant of JacobShall be among many peoplesLike dew from the L,Like showers on the grass [a source of blessing]Which [come suddenly and] do not wait for manNor delay for the sons of men.
8 The remnant of JacobShall be among the nations,In the midst of many peoplesLike a lion among the beasts of the forest,Like a young lion [suddenly appearing] among the flocks of sheepWhich, if he passes through,Tramples down and tears into pieces [the nations in judgment],And there is no one to rescue.
9 Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,And all your enemies shall be cut offanddestroyed.
10 “And in that day,” says the L,“I will cut off your horses from among youAnd destroy your chariots [on which you depend].
11 I will cut off the cities of your landAnd tear down all your fortifications.
12 I will cut off witchcraftsandsorceries from your hand,And you shall have no more fortune-tellers.
13 I will also cut off your carved imagesAnd yoursacredpillars from among you,So that you will no longer worshipandbow downTo the work of your hands.
14 I will root out your Asherim (symbols of the goddess Asherah) from among youAnd destroy your cities [which are the centers of pagan worship].
15 And in anger and wrath I shall execute vengeanceOn the nations which have not obeyed [such vengeance as they have not known before].”