1. (4:14) But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers!We are besieged!With a scepter they strike Israel’s ruleron the side of his face.
2. (5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah – from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf,one whose origins are in the distant past.
3. So the Lord will hand the people of Israel over to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth.Then the rest of the king’s countrymen will returnto be reunited with the people of Israel.
4. He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength,by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God.They will live securely, for at that time he will be honoredeven in the distant regions of the earth.
5. He will give us peace.Should the Assyrians try to invade our landand attempt to set foot in our fortresses,we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers,make that eight commanders.
6. They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,the land of Nimrod with a drawn sword.Our king will rescue us from the Assyriansshould they attempt to invade our landand try to set foot in our territory.
7. Those survivors from Jacob will livein the midst of many nations.They will be like the dew the Lord sends,like the rain on the grass,that does not hope for men to comeor wait around for humans to arrive.