Mobilize! The enemy lays siege to Jerusalem! With a rod they shall strike the Judge of Israel on the face,
2 Oh Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of My King who is alive from everlasting ages past!
3 God will abandon His people to their enemies until the time of Israel’s spiritual rebirth; then at last the exile remnants of Israel will rejoin their brethren in their own land.
4 And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God; and His people shall remain there undisturbed, for He will be greatly honored all around the world.
5 He will be our Peace. And when the Assyrian invades our land and marches across our hills, He will ap-point seven shepherds to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.
6 They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land.
7 Then the nation of Israel will refresh the world like a gentle dew or the welcome showers of rain,
8 And Israel will be as strong as a lion. The nations will be like helpless sheep before her!
9 She will stand up to her foes; all her enemies will be wiped out.
10 At that same time, says the Lord, I will destroy all the weapons you depend on,
11 And tear down your walls and demolish the defenses of your cities.
12 I will put an end to all witchcraft-there will be no more fortune-tellers to consult;
13 And destroy all your idols-never again will you worship what you have made;
14 And I will abolish the heathen shrines from among you, and destroy the cities where your idol temples stand.
15 And I will pour out My vengeance upon the nations who refuse to obey Me.
