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So, strong city, gather your soldiers together.
    We are surrounded and attacked.
The enemy will swing his club.
    He will hit the leader of Israel in the face.

The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    are one of the smallest towns in Judah.
But from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
    He comes from very old times,
    from days long ago.”
The Lord will leave his people in Babylon
    until Jerusalem, who is in labor, gives birth to her children.
Then his brothers who are in captivity will return.
    They will come back to the people of Israel living in Judah.
Then the ruler of Israel will stand
    and take care of his people.
He will lead them with the Lord’s power.
    He will lead them in the wonderful name of the Lord his God.
They will live in safety.
    And his greatness will be known all over the earth.
    He will bring peace.

Rescue and Punishment

The Assyrian army will come into our country.
    They will destroy our large houses.
But we will choose seven or eight leaders.
    They will shepherd our people.
They will destroy the Assyrians with their swords.
    They will conquer the land of Assyria with their swords drawn.
The Assyrians will come into our land.
    They will come within our borders.
But the leaders of Israel
    will save us from them.

Then the people of Jacob who are left alive
    will be like dew from the Lord to many people.
They will be like rain which does not wait for man.
    They will be like showers which do not wait for human beings.
Those left alive of Jacob’s people
    will be scattered among the nations.
    They will be among many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest.
    They will be like a young lion going through the flock.
He steps on what is in his way.
    No one can save the nations from God’s people.
So you will raise your fist in victory over your enemies,
    and you will destroy them.

10 The Lord says, “At that time,
    I will take your horses from you.
    I will destroy your chariots.
11 I will destroy the walled cities in your country.
    I will tear down all your defenses.
12 You will no longer be able to do witchcraft.
    You will not have anyone who can tell the future.
13 I will destroy your statues of false gods.
    I will tear down the stone pillars you worship.
You will no longer worship
    what your hands have made.
14 I will destroy the Asherah idols.
    I will destroy your cities.
15 Some people won’t obey me.
    I will show my anger and punish them.”

Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

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.

And this man 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 principal men.

And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

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 tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

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: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:

11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:

12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.

15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.