15.1 Ch 4.14 in Heb Now you are walled around with a wall;5.1 Cn Compare Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain

siege is laid against us;

with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel

upon the cheek.

The Ruler from Bethlehem

25.2 Ch 5.1 in Heb But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days.

3Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labour has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return

to the people of Israel.

4And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth;

5and he shall be the one of peace.

If the Assyrians come into our land

and tread upon our soil,5.5 Gk: Heb in our palaces

we will raise against them seven shepherds

and eight installed as rulers.

6They shall rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword;5.6 Cn: Heb in its entrances

they5.6 Heb he shall rescue us from the Assyrians

if they come into our land

or tread within our border.

The Future Role of the Remnant

7Then the remnant of Jacob,

surrounded by many peoples,

shall be like dew from the LORD,

like showers on the grass,

which do not depend upon people

or wait for any mortal.

8And among the nations the remnant of Jacob,

surrounded by many peoples,

shall be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

which, when it goes through, treads down

and tears in pieces, with no one to deliver.

9Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,

and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10On that day, says the LORD,

I will cut off your horses from among you

and will destroy your chariots;

11and I will cut off the cities of your land

and throw down all your strongholds;

12and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,

and you shall have no more soothsayers;

13and I will cut off your images

and your pillars from among you,

and you shall bow down no more

to the work of your hands;

14and I will uproot your sacred poles5.14 Heb Asherim from among you

and destroy your towns.

15And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance

on the nations that did not obey.