5 

Now you may gash yourself in grief;

for siege is laid to you,

blows of insult strike the cheek

of Israel’s sheikh.

5 

But this will protect us,

when the Assyrian invades our land,

when he sets foot on our soil;

ample leaders we shall raise against him,

princes ample and enough,

6 

to let Assyria feel the sword

and drive the bare blade over Nimrod’s land,

rescuing us from the Assyrian,

when he invades our land

and sets foot on our territory.

2 

O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

tiniest of townships in all Judah,

out of you a king shall come to govern Israel,

one whose origin is of old,

of long descent 3 [[The Eternal leaves them to themselves, until his mother gives birth to him; and then the survivors of his family shall rejoin Israel; return they shall, 4 for by that time his power shall extend to the ends of the earth]], one who stands firm and rules

with the strength of the Eternal,

with high authority from his God the Eternal.

7 

Like dew that drops from the Eternal,

so shall the residue of Jacob be,

among the mass of nations,

like showers upon the grass,

needing no help of man,

no human aid.

8 

Like a lion among beasts of the jungle,

so shall the residue of Jacob be,

among the mass of nations,

like a young lion loose among the sheep,

that tears and tramples them,

none able to bring rescue.

10 “On that day,” the Eternal declares, “I will cut off your war-horses and destroy your chariots, 11 I will root out the towns of your country and ruin all your fortresses; 12 I will deprive you of your sorcery--you must have no more wizards; 13 I will cut out of you idols and sacred stones-—you must no longer worship things you manufacture; 14 I will uproot your sacred poles and destroy your images 15 [[and in wrath and fury I will inflict unheard-of punishment upon pagans]].” * * *