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¹ So, strong city, gather your soldiers together,
    because we are surrounded and attacked.
They will hit the leader of Israel
    in the face with a club.

² "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
    He comes from very old times,
    from days long ago."

³ The Lord will give up his people
    until the one who is having a baby gives birth;
then the rest of his relatives will return
    to the people of Israel.
⁴ At that time the ruler of Israel will stand
    and take care of his people
with the Lord's strength
    and with the power of the name of the Lord his God.
The Israelites will live in safety,
    because his greatness will reach all over the earth.
⁵ He will bring peace.

Assyria will surely come into our country
    and walk over our large buildings.
We will set up seven shepherds,
    eight leaders of the people.
⁶ They will destroy the Assyrians with their swords;
    they will conquer the land of Assyria with their swords drawn.
They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they come into our land,
    when they walk over our borders.

⁷ Then the people of Jacob who are left alive
    will be to other people
like dew from the Lord
    or rain on the grass—
it does not wait for human beings;
    it does not pause for any person.
⁸ Those of Jacob's people who are left alive
    will be scattered among many nations and peoples.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
    like a young lion in a flock of sheep:
As it goes, it jumps on them
    and tears them to pieces,
    and no one can save them.
⁹ So you will raise your fist in victory over your enemies,
    and all your enemies will be destroyed.

¹⁰ The Lord says, "At that time,
    I will take your horses from you
    and destroy your chariots.
¹¹ I will destroy the cities in your country
    and tear down all your defenses.
¹² I will take away the magic charms you use
    so you will have no more fortune-tellers.
¹³ I will destroy your statues of gods
    and the stone pillars you worship
so that you will no longer worship
    what your hands have made.
¹⁴ I will tear down Asherah idols from you
    and destroy your cities.
¹⁵ In my anger and rage,
    I will pay back the nations that have not listened."