Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Now muster your troops, Daughter Troop! They have laid siege against us; with a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
1
Now, gather your troops, you city of troops. We are under attack. Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.
2 As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah's forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you. His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.
2
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah's cities. Yet, from you Israel's future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.
3 Therefore, he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor gives birth. The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel.
3
That is why the LORD will abandon Israel until the time a mother has a child. Then the rest of the LORD's people 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. They will dwell secure, because he will surely become great throughout the earth;
4
The child will become the shepherd of his flock. [He will lead them] with the strength of the LORD, with the majestic name of the LORD his God. They will live in safety because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.
5 he will become one of peace. When Assyria invades our land and treads down our fortresses, then we will raise up against him seven shepherds and eight human princes.
5
This man will be their peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and trample our palaces, we will attack them with seven shepherds and eight leaders.
6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword. He will rescue us from Assyria when he invades our land and treads within our territory.
6
They will rule Assyria with their swords and the country of Nimrod with drawn swords. They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land and walk within our territory.
7 Then the few remaining in Jacob will be amid many peoples like dew from the LORD, like spring showers upon the grass, which does not hope for humans or wait for human ones.
7
Then the few people left from Jacob will be among many people like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass. They do not put their hope in humans or wait for mortals.
8 Then the few remaining in Jacob will be among the nations, amid many peoples, like a lion among the creatures of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which when it passes by, tramples and tears to pieces with no one to deliver.
8
The few people left from Jacob will be among the nations, among many people. They will be like a lion among animals in the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep. When a lion hunts, it tramples [its victims] and tears [them] to pieces, and there is no one to rescue them.
9 Your hand will be lifted over your foes; all your enemies will be cut off.
9
You will use your power against your opponents, and all your enemies will be destroyed.
10 On that day—says the LORD— I will cut down your horses in your midst; I will destroy your chariots!
10
"When that day comes," declares the LORD, "I will destroy your horses and demolish your chariots.
11 I will cut down the cities of your land; I will tear down your defenses!
11
I will destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your fortresses.
12 I will demolish the sorceries you perform; you will have no more diviners!
12
I will destroy your sorcerers, and you will have no more fortunetellers.
13 I will cut down your images and your sacred pillars in your midst. You will no longer bow down to the works of your hands!
13
I will destroy your idols and your sacred monuments. You will no longer worship what your hands have made.
14 I will tear down your sacred poles in your midst; I will destroy your cities!
14
I will pull out your poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. I will wipe out your cities.
15 I will exact vengeance in anger and in wrath on the nations that don't obey!
15
I will take revenge with great anger on the nations that do not obey me."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.