Chapter 5
1 But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah(A)
least among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
2 Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
Then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the children of Israel.(B)
3 He shall take his place as shepherd
by the strength of the Lord,
by the majestic name of the Lord, his God;
And they shall dwell securely, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth:
4 he shall be peace.
If Assyria invades our country
and treads upon our land,
We shall raise against it seven shepherds,
eight of royal standing;
5 They shall tend the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword;
They will deliver us from Assyria,
when it invades our land,
when it treads upon our borders.
6 The remnant of Jacob shall be
in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew coming from the Lord,
like showers on the grass,
Which wait for no one,
delay for no human being.
7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep;
When it passes through it tramples;
it tears and no one can rescue.
8 Your hand shall be lifted above your foes,
and all your enemies shall be cut down.
9 On that day—oracle of the Lord—
I will destroy the horses from your midst
and ruin your chariots;
10 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your fortresses.
11 I will destroy the sorcery you practice,
and there shall no longer be soothsayers among you.
12 I will destroy your carved figures
and the sacred stones from your midst;
And you shall no longer worship
the works of your hands.(C)
13 I will tear out the asherahs from your midst,
and destroy your cities.
14 I will wreak vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not listened.
Footnotes
- 5:1–6
- 5:2
- 5:4
- 5:5
- 5:9–13
- 5:12–13
Cross references
- 5:1 : Ru 1:2; 1 Sm 17:12; Mt 2:6; Jn 7:42.
- 5:2–3 : Is 7:14; 11:1–2.
- 5:12 : Hos 3:4; 10:1–2.
