1Marshal your troops, O city of troops,Or Strengthen your walls, O walled city
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 clansOr rulers of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose originsHebrew goings out are from of old,
from ancient times.Or from days of eternity”

3Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

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.

5And he will be their peace.

When the Assyrian invades our land
and marches through our fortresses,
we will raise against him seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.
6They will ruleOr crush the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.Or Nimrod in its gates
He will deliver us from the Assyrian
when he invades our land
and marches into our borders.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.

9Your 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.

11I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.

12I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.

13I will destroy your carved images
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.

14I will uproot from among you your Asherah polesThat is, symbols of the goddess Asherah
and demolish your cities.

15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”