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“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
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Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
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He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the class="small-caps" >Lord, in the majesty of the name of the class="small-caps" >Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
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And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,
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who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.
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The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the class="small-caps" >Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man.
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The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.
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Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.
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“In that day,” declares the class="small-caps" >Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.
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I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
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I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.
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I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.
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I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities.
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The class="small-caps" >Lord’s Case Against Israel
Listen to what the class="small-caps" >Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.
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“Hear, you mountains, the class="small-caps" >Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the class="small-caps" >Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.
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“My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.
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I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
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My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the class="small-caps" >Lord.”
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With what shall I come before the class="small-caps" >Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
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Will the class="small-caps" >Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
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Israel’s Guilt and Punishment
Listen! The class="small-caps" >Lord is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom— “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.
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Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed?
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Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?
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Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins.
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You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword.
