Micah, 5

1. But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.

1. But you (Bethlehem) Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, from you will come for me a future ruler of Israel whose origins go back to the distant past, to the days of old.

2. (Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, And the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.)

2. Hence Yahweh will abandon them only until she who is in labour gives birth, and then those who survive of his race will be reunited to the Israelites.

3. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth;

3. He will take his stand and he will shepherd them with the power of Yahweh, with the majesty of the name of his God, and they will be secure, for his greatness will extend henceforth to the most distant parts of the country.

4. he shall be peace. If Assyria invades our country and treads upon our land, We shall raise against it seven shepherds, eight men of royal rank;

4. He himself will be peace! Should the Assyrian invade our country, should he set foot in our land, we shall raise seven shepherds against him, eight leaders of men;

5. And they shall tend the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword; And we shall be delivered from Assyria, if it invades our land and treads upon our borders.

5. they will shepherd Assyria with the sword, the country of Nimrod with naked blade. He will save us from the Assyrian, should he invade our country, should he set foot inside our frontiers.

6. The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, Like dew coming from the LORD, like raindrops on the grass, Which wait for no man, nor tarry for the sons of men.

6. Then what is left of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, will be like a dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, which do not depend on human agency and are beyond human control.

7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, Like a lion among beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep; When it passes through, it tramples and tears, and there is none to deliver.

7. Then what is left of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, will be like a lion among the forest beasts, like a fierce lion among flocks of sheep trampling as he goes, mangling his prey which no one takes from him.

8. Your hand shall be lifted above your foes, and all your enemies shall be destroyed.

8. You will be victorious over your foes and all your enemies will be torn to pieces.

9. On that day, says the LORD, I will destroy the horses from your midst and ruin your chariots;

9. When that day comes- declares Yahweh- I shall tear your horses away from you, I shall destroy your chariots;

10. I will demolish the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses.

10. I shall tear the cities from your country, I shall overthrow all your fortresses;

11. I will abolish the means of divination from your use, and there shall no longer be soothsayers among you.

11. I shall tear the spells out of your hands and you will have no more soothsayers;

12. I will abolish your carved images and the sacred pillars from your midst; And you shall no longer adore the works of your hands.

12. I shall tear away your images and your sacred pillars from among you, and no longer will you worship things which your own hands have made!

13. I will tear out the sacred poles from your midst, and destroy your cities.

13. I shall uproot your sacred poles and shall destroy your cities!

14. I will wreak vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not hearkened.

14. In furious anger I shall wreak vengeance on the nations who have disobeyed me!