² “But you, Bethlehem^(A) Ephrathah,^(B)
    though you are small among the clans^[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler^(C) over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,^(D)
    from ancient times.”^(E)

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned^(F)
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock^(G)
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness^(H)
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ And he will be our peace^(I)
    when the Assyrians invade^(J) our land
    and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
    even eight commanders,^(K)

⁶ With what shall I come before^(A) the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?^(B)
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(C)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(D)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(E) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(F)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(G) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a](H) with your God.^(I)