Micah 5:2-4

Contemporary English Version

^2 (A) Bethlehem Ephrath,
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.^[a]
3 The Lord will abandon Israel
    only until this ruler is born,
and the rest of his family^[b]
    returns to Israel.
⁴ Like 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,