King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
1
People of Jerusalem, gather your forces! We are besieged! They are attacking the leader of Israel!
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
2
The Lord says, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times."
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
3
So the Lord will abandon his people to their enemies until the woman who is to give birth has her son. Then those Israelites who are in exile will be reunited with their own people.
4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
4
When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness,
5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
5
and he will bring peace. When the Assyrians invade our country and break through our defenses, we will send our strongest leaders to fight them.
6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
6
By force of arms they will conquer Assyria, the land of Nimrod, and they will save us from the Assyrians when they invade our territory.
7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
7
The people of Israel who survive will be like refreshing dew sent by the Lord for many nations, like showers on growing plants. They will depend on God, not people.
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
8
Those who are left among the nations will be like a lion hunting for food in a forest or a pasture: it gets in among the sheep, pounces on them, and tears them to pieces - and there is no hope of rescue.
9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
9
Israel will conquer her enemies and destroy them all.
10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
10
The Lord says, "At that time I will take away your horses and destroy your chariots.
11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
11
I will destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your defenses.
12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
12
I will destroy the magic charms you use and leave you without any fortunetellers.
13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
13
I will destroy your idols and sacred stone pillars; no longer will you worship the things that you yourselves have made.
14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
14
I will pull down the images of the goddess Asherah in your land and destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
15
And in my great anger I will take revenge on all nations that have not obeyed me."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.