Micah

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  5. 5
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A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

5 
[a]Marshal your troops now, 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[b] 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 bears a son,

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 our peace

when the Assyrians invade our land

and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

even eight commanders,

6 who will rule[c] the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.[d]

He will deliver us from the Assyrians

when they invade our land

and march across 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 anyone

or depend on man.

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 idols

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[e]

when I demolish your cities.

15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath

on the nations that have not obeyed me.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:14, and 5:2-15 is numbered 5:1-14.
  2. Micah 5:2 Or rulers
  3. Micah 5:6 Or crush
  4. Micah 5:6 Or Nimrod in its gates
  5. Micah 5:14 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah