Micah 5
1Now come together in battle ranks, 1 daughter of soldiers; 1 the soldiers have set up a siege around city, 1 with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel 1 on the cheek. + 5:1 Instead of come together in battle ranks , some interpreters translate cut yourselves , referring to the pagan practice of cutting oneself while praying to idols. Also, some modern versions follow an ancient version that reads build up your fortifications . 1
2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 1 even though you are small among the clans of Judah, 1 out of you one will come to me 1 to rule in Israel, 1 whose beginning is from ancient times, 1 from everlasting. 1
3Therefore God will give them up, 1 until the time when she who is in labor bears a child, 1 and the rest of his brothers return to the people of Israel. 1
4He will stand 1 and shepherd his flock in the strength of Yahweh, 1 in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. 1 They will remain, 1 for then he will be great to the ends of the earth. 1
5For this shall be the peace— 1 when the Assyrians come into our land, 1 and when they march against our fortresses, 1 then we will raise against them seven shepherds 1 and eight leaders over men. 1
6They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, 1 and the land of Nimrod in its entrances. + 5:6 The Hebrew text has in its entrances , that is, in their gates. However, some modern versions suppose that a different Hebrew word was intended: with a drawn sword . 1 He will rescue us from the Assyrians, 1 when they come into our land, 1 when they march inside our borders. 1
7The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples, 1 like dew from Yahweh, 1 like showers on the grass, 1 that do not wait for a man, 1 and they do not wait for the children of mankind. 1
8The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, 1 among many peoples, 1 like a lion among the animals of the forest, 1 like a young lion among the flocks of sheep. 1 When he goes through them, 1 he will trample over them and tear them to pieces, 1 and there will be no one to save them. 1
9Your hand will be lifted against your enemies, 1 and it will destroy them. 1
10“It will happen in that day”—this is Yahweh's declaration— 1 “that I will destroy your horses from among you 1 and will demolish your chariots. 1
11I will destroy the cities in your land 1 and throw down all your strongholds. 1
12I will destroy the witchcraft in your hand, 1 and you will no longer have any diviners. 1
13I will destroy your carved figures 1 and your stone pillars from among you. 1 You will no longer worship the workmanship of your hands. 1
14I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you, 1 and I will destroy your cities. 1
15I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath 1 on the nations that have not listened.”