| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Marshal 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. | 1But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers! We are besieged! With a scepter they strike Israel's ruler on the side of his face. |
| 2"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans 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." | 2As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah--from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past. |
| 3Therefore 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. | 3So the LORD will hand the people of Israel over to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth. Then the rest of the king's countrymen will return to be reunited with the people of Israel. |
| 4He 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. | 4He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth. |
| 5And 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, | 5He will give us peace. Should the Assyrians try to invade our land and attempt to set foot in our fortresses, we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers, make that eight commanders. |
| 6who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders. | 6They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with a drawn sword. Our king will rescue us from the Assyrians should they attempt to invade our land and try to set foot in our territory. |
| 7The 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. | 7Those survivors from Jacob will live in the midst of many nations. They will be like the dew the LORD sends, like the rain on the grass, that does not hope for men to come or wait around for humans to arrive. |
| 8The 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. | 8Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations, in the midst of many peoples. They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which attacks when it passes through; it rips its prey and there is no one to stop it. |
| 9Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed. | 9Lift your hand triumphantly against your adversaries; may all your enemies be destroyed! |
| 10"In that day," declares the LORD, "I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. | 10"In that day," says the LORD, "I will destroy your horses from your midst, and smash your chariots. |
| 11I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. | 11I will destroy the cities of your land, and tear down all your fortresses. |
| 12I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. | 12I will remove the sorcery that you practice, and you will no longer have omen readers living among you. |
| 13I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. | 13I will remove your idols and sacred pillars from your midst; you will no longer worship what your own hands made. |
| 14I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. | 14I will uproot your images of Asherah from your midst, and destroy your idols. |
| 15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me." | 15I will angrily seek vengeance on the nations that do not obey me." |
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