Dual Panel1But now <06258> slash <01413> yourself, daughter <01323> surrounded <07760> by soldiers <01416>! We are besieged <04692>! With <05921> a scepter <07626> they strike <05221> Israel’s <03478> ruler <08199> on <05921> the side of his face <03895>.
2As for you <0859>, Bethlehem <01035> Ephrathah <0672>, seemingly insignificant <06810> among the clans <0505> of Judah <03063>– from <04480> you a king will emerge <03318> who will rule over <04910> Israel <03478> on my behalf, one whose origins <04163> are in the distant past <05769> <03117>.
3So <03651> the Lord will hand <05414> the people of Israel over <05414> to their enemies until <05704> the time <06256> when the woman in labor <03205> gives birth <03205>. Then the rest <03499> of the king’s countrymen <0251> will return <07725> to be reunited <05921> with the people <01121> of Israel <03478>.
4He will assume his post <05975> and shepherd <07462> the people by the Lord’s <03069> strength <05797>, by the sovereign <01347> authority <08034> of the Lord <03069> his God <0430>. They will live securely <03427>, for <03588> at that time <06258> he will be honored <01431> even <05704> in the distant regions <0657> of the earth <0776>.
5He will give <01961> us peace <07965>. Should the Assyrians <0804> try to invade <0935> our land <0776> and attempt to set foot <01869> in our fortresses <0759>, we will send <06965> against <05921> them seven <07651> shepherd-rulers <07462>, make that eight <08083> commanders <0120> <05257>.
6They will rule <07489> the land <0776> of Assyria <0804> with the sword <02719>, the land <0776> of Nimrod <05248> with a drawn sword <06607>. Our king will rescue <05337> us from the Assyrians <0804> should they attempt to invade <0935> our land <0776> and try to set foot <01869> in our territory <01366>.
7Those survivors <07611> from Jacob <03290> will live <01961> in the midst <07130> of many <07227> nations <05971>. They will be like the dew <02919> the Lord <03068> sends, like the rain <07241> on <05921> the grass <06212>, that <0834> does not <03808> hope <06960> for men <0376> to come or <03808> wait <03176> around for humans <0120> <01121> to arrive.
8Those survivors <07611> from Jacob <03290> will live <01961> among <07130> the nations <01471>, in the midst of many <07227> peoples <05971>. They will be like a lion <0738> among the animals <0929> of the forest <03293>, like a young lion <03715> among the flocks <05739> of sheep <06629>, which <0834> attacks <07429> when <0518> it passes through <05674>; it rips <02963> its prey and there is no one <0369> to stop <05337> it.
9Lift <07311> your hand <03027> triumphantly against <05921> your adversaries <06862>; may all <03605> your enemies <0341> be destroyed <03772>!
10“In that <01931> day <03117>,” says <05002> the Lord <03068>, “I will destroy <03772> your horses <05483> from your midst <07130>, and smash <06> your chariots <04818>.
11I will destroy <03772> the cities <05892> of your land <0776>, and tear down <02040> all <03605> your fortresses <04013>.
12I will remove <03772> the sorcery <03785> that you practice, and you will no <03808> longer have <01961> omen readers <06049> living among you.
13I will remove <03772> your idols <06456> and sacred pillars <04676> from your midst <07130>; you will no <03808> longer <05750> worship <07812> what your own hands <03027> made <04639>.
14I will uproot <05428> your images of Asherah <0842> from your midst <07130>, and destroy <08045> your idols <05892>.
15I will angrily <02534> <0639> seek <06213> vengeance <05359> on the nations <01471> that <0834> do not <03808> obey <08085> me.”