Micah 5

5:1 1 But now slash yourself,2 daughter surrounded by soldiers!3

We are besieged!

With a scepter4 they strike Israel’s ruler5

on the side of his face.

A King Will Come and a Remnant Will Prosper

5:2 As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,6

seemingly insignificant7 among the clans of Judah—

from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf,8

one whose origins9 are in the distant past.10

5:3 So the Lord11 will hand the people of Israel12 over to their enemies13

until the time when the woman in labor14 gives birth.15

Then the rest of the king’s16 brothers will return

to be reunited with the people of Israel.17

5:4 He will assume his position18 and shepherd the people19 by the Lord’s strength,

by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God.20

They will live in peace,21 for at that time he will be honored22

even in the distant regions of23 the earth.

5:5 He will give us peace.24

When the Assyrians try to invade our land,

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,25

we will send26 against them seven27 shepherd-rulers,28

make that eight commanders.29

5:6 They will rule30 the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod31 with a drawn sword.32

Our king33 will rescue us from the Assyrians,

when they attempt to invade our land

and try to set foot in our territory.

5:7 Those survivors from34 Jacob will live35

in 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 come

or wait around for human beings to arrive.36

5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

which, when it passes through, attacks

and rips its prey,37 and can’t be stopped.38

5:9 Lift your hand triumphantly against your adversaries;39

may all your enemies be destroyed!40

The Lord Will Purify His People

5:10 “In that day,” says the Lord,

“I will destroy41 your horses from your midst,

and smash your chariots.

5:11 I will destroy the cities of your land,

and tear down all your fortresses.

5:12 I will remove the magic charms42 from your hands,

and you will no longer have omen readers living among you.43

5:13 I will remove your idols and sacred pillars from your midst;

you will no longer worship what your own hands made.

5:14 I will uproot your images of Asherah44 from your midst,

and destroy your idols.45

5:15 I will angrily seek vengeance

on the nations that do not obey me.”46

The Lord Demands Justice, not Ritual

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