A Promised Ruler
1 Jerusalem, enemy troops
have surrounded you;
they have struck Israel's ruler
in the face with a stick.
2 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.
3 The Lord will abandon Israel
only until this ruler is born,
and the rest of his family
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,
5 because he will bring peace.
Assyria Will Be Defeated
Let Assyria attack our country
and our palaces.
We will counterattack,
led by a number of rulers
6 whose strong army will defeat
the nation of Assyria.
Yes, our leaders will rescue us,
if those Assyrians
dare to invade our land.
The Survivors Will Be Safe
7 A few of Jacob's descendants
survived and are scattered
among the nations.
But the Lord will let them
cover the earth like dew and rain
that refreshes the soil.
8 At present they are scattered,
but later they will attack,
as though they were fierce lions
pouncing on sheep.
Their enemies will be torn
to shreds,
with no one to save them;
9 they will be helpless,
completely destroyed.
Idols Will Be Destroyed in Israel
10 The Lord said:
At that time I will wipe out
your cavalry and chariots,
11 as well as your cities
and your fortresses.
12 I will stop you
from telling fortunes
and practicing witchcraft.
13 You will no longer worship
the idols or stone images
you have made—
I will destroy them,
14 together with the sacred poles
and even your towns.
15 I will become furious
and take revenge on the nations
that refuse to obey me.
Apsolītais valdnieks no Betlēmes
1 Tu, Betlēme Efrātā,
sīkākā no Jūdas saimēm,
no tevis man nāks tas,
kam jākļūst par valdnieku Israēlā!
Viņš cēlies –
no laika iesākuma,
no mūžības dienām.
2 Viņš tos pametīs uz laiku,
līdz dzemdētāja būs dzemdējusi,
tad viņa atlikušie brāļi
atgriezīsies pie Israēla dēliem,
3 viņš nostāsies un ganīs Kunga spēkā,
Kunga, sava Dieva, vārda varenībā –
tad tie dzīvos,
un viņš kļūs varens līdz zemes malām!
4 Un tad būs miers.
Kad Asīrija nāks mūsu zemē un izbradās mūsu pilis,
mēs celsim pret to septiņus ganus,
astoņus ļaužu dižvīrus.
5 Viņi noganīs Asīrijas zemi ar zobenu,
Nimroda zemi – ar zobena asmeni.
Viņš glābs mūs no Asīrijas,
kad tas nāks mūsu zemē
un izbradās mūsu robežas.
Israēla atlikums
6 Jēkaba atlikums starp daudzajām tautām
būs kā Kunga rasa, kā lietusgāze zālei –
kas negaida uz cilvēku
un necer uz cilvēku bērniem.
7 Jēkaba atlikums paliks starp tautām,
starp daudzajām tautām,
kā lauva starp meža zvēriem,
kā lauvu jaunulis avju pulkā –
kad viņš iziet cauri,
tad saplēš un samin, un glābēja nav!
8 Tu pacelsi savu roku
pret saviem apspiedējiem,
un visi tavi naidnieki tiks iznīdēti!
9 “Tā būs tajā dienā!”
saka Kungs.
“Es iznīdētu tavus zirgus,
es satriekšu tavus kararatus!
10 Es iznīdēšu pilsētas tavā zemē,
es sagraušu visus tavus cietokšņus!
11 Es iznīdēšu tavus buramos rīkus,
un zīlnieku tev vairs neatliks!
12 Es iznīdēšu tavus elku tēlus,
tavus elku stabus, ko tu sacēlusi!
Tu vairs nezemosies savam roku darbam!
13 Es izravēšu ašēras no tava vidus,
es iznīcināšu tavas pilsētas!
14 Es atriebšu dusmās un niknumā –
tautām, kas neklausīja!”
