A Ruler from Bethlehem
(Matthew 2:1–12)

1Now mobilize your troops,

O daughter of a troop!

A siege he has laid against us;

with a rod they will strike on the cheek

the judge of Israel.

2And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

being small among the thousands† of Judah:

From you will come forth unto Me

One to be Ruler in Israel,†

and his goings forth are of old,

from everlasting.

3Therefore He will give them up,

until the time the one giving birth has given birth;

and the remnant of his brothers will return

to the sons of Israel.

4And he will stand and pasture them

in the strength of YHWH,

in the majesty of the name of YHWH his God;

and they will dwell securely,

for now he will be great

as far as the ends of the earth.

5And this one will be our peace.†

When Assyria comes into our land

and treads in our citadels,

we will raise against him seven shepherds,

and eight princes of mankind.

6And they will shepherd against the land of Assyria with the sword,

and against the land of Nimrod at its entrances;

and He will deliver us from Assyria,

when he comes into our land,

and treads within our borders.

The Remnant of Jacob
(Micah 2:12–13)

7And the remnant of Jacob will be

in the midst of many peoples,

like dew from YHWH,

like showers on the grass

that do not wait for man

and do not linger for the sons of man.

8And 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,

who, if he passes through, both treads down and tears to pieces,

and there is no one delivering.

9Your hand will be lifted against your adversaries,

and all your enemies will be cut off.

10“And it will come to pass in that day,”

a declaration of YHWH,

“That I will cut off your horses from your midst,

and I will destroy your chariots.

11And I will cut off the cities of your land,

and I will tear down all your strongholds.

12And I will cut off sorcery from your hand,

and those practicing divination will not be unto you.

13And I will cut off your carved images

and your sacred pillars from your midst,

and you will not bow down anymore

to the work of your hands.

14And I will pluck up your Asherah poles from your midst,

and I will destroy your cities.

15And I will execute vengeance in anger and in fury

on the nations who would not listen.”