MicahChapter 5
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1Now gather your troops, city of troops.
An enemy has surrounded us to attack!
They will strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek with a rod. 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah.
Yet out of you will come for me
one who will rule over Israel.
His beginnings are from long ago,
from the days of eternity. 3So Israel will be left alone
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his brothers
will come back to the people of Israel. 4He will stand and take care of his flock like a shepherd.
He will do it in the strength of the LORD,
in the great name of the LORD his God.
And they will live safely,
for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5And he will be our peace
when Assyria attacks our land
and marches through our strong towers.
We will raise up seven shepherds against them,
even eight leaders of men. 6They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword.
They will rule the land of Nimrod with swords drawn.
So he will rescue us from Assyria
when it attacks our land
and marches across our borders. 7Then those left of Jacob's people
will be among many peoples.
They will be like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass.
Showers do not wait for anyone.
They do not stay waiting for people. 8Those left of Jacob's people will be among the nations,
in the middle of many peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep.
It stomps and tears them as it goes through.
No one can rescue them. 9Your hand will be raised up over your enemies.
All your enemies will be wiped out. 10"On that day," declares the LORD,
"I will take away your horses from among you.
I will wreck your chariots. 11I will remove the cities of your land.
I will tear down all your forts. 12I will take away the magic spells from your hands.
You will have no more fortune-tellers. 13I will also destroy your carved idols
and your sacred stone pillars from among you.
You will no longer bow down
to things your own hands have made. 14I will pull up the Asherah poles from among you.
I will tear down your cities. 15In anger and rage I will pay back
the nations that have not obeyed me."