A Promised Ruler

¹Jerusalem, enemy troops

have surrounded you;

they have struck Israel's ruler

in the face with a stick.

²Bethlehem Ephrath,[#Mt 2.6; Jn 7.42.]

you are one of the smallest towns

in the nation of Judah.

But the Lord will choose

one of your people

to rule the nation—

someone whose family

goes back to ancient times.

³The Lord will abandon Israel

only until this ruler is born,

and the rest of his family

returns to Israel.

⁴Like a shepherd

taking care of his sheep,

this ruler will lead

and care for his people

by the power and glorious name

of the Lord his God.

His people will live securely,

and the whole earth will know

his true greatness,

⁵because he will bring peace.

Assyria Will Be Defeated

Let Assyria attack our country

and our palaces.

We will counterattack,

led by a number of rulers

⁶whose strong army will defeat[#Gn 10.6-20.]

the nation of Assyria.

Yes, our leaders will rescue us,

if those Assyrians

dare to invade our land.

The Survivors Will Be Safe

⁷A few of Jacob's descendants

survived and are scattered

among the nations.

But the Lord will let them

cover the earth like dew and rain

that refreshes the soil.

⁸At present they are scattered,

but later they will attack,

as though they were fierce lions

pouncing on sheep.

Their enemies will be torn

to shreds,

with no one to save them;

⁹they will be helpless,

completely destroyed.

Idols Will Be Destroyed in Israel

¹⁰The Lord said:

At that time I will wipe out

your cavalry and chariots,

¹¹as well as your cities

and your fortresses.

¹²I will stop you

from telling fortunes

and practicing witchcraft.

¹³You will no longer worship

the idols or stone images

you have made—

I will destroy them,

¹⁴together with the sacred poles[#5.14 Used in the worship of Asherah, the fertility goddess.]

and even your towns.

¹⁵I will become furious

and take revenge on the nations

that refuse to obey me.