Micah 5

The Ruler from Bethlehem

1 Now gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. They laid siege against us. With a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you One will come out for Me to be ruler in Israel, whose origins are from long ago, from ancient days.

3 Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of His brothers will return to the people of Israel.

4 He 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, because then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And He will be their peace. When Assyria comes into our land and tramples our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword and the land of Nimrod at its entrances. He will deliver us from Assyria when it attacks our land and steps within our borders.

The Remnant Among the Nations

7 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man.

8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples, like a lion among animals of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, and nobody can rescue.

9 Your hand will be lifted up over your enemies, and all your adversaries will be cut off.

The LORD Purifies His People

10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots.

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

12 I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you will not have fortune-tellers anymore.

13 I will cut off your carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so you will not bow down anymore to the work of your hands.

14 I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you and destroy your cities.

15 And in anger and wrath I will carry out vengeance on the nations that did not obey.”