1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall strike the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5 And this one shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight princely men.
6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders.
7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: which, if it passes through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver.
9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.
10 And it shall come to pass in that day,
11 And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strongholds:
12 And I will cut off sorceries out of your hand; and you shall have no more soothsayers:
13 Your graven images also will I cut off, and your sacred pillars out of your midst; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.
14 And I will pluck up your idol poles out of your midst: so will I destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the nations, that have not obeyed.