1 People of Jerusalem, gather your forces! We are besieged! They are attacking the leader of Israel!
God Promises a Ruler from Bethlehem
2 The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.”
3 So the Lord will abandon his people to their enemies until the woman who is to give birth has her son. Then those Israelites who are in exile will be reunited with their own people. 4 When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness, 5 and he will bring peace.
Deliverance and Punishment
When the Assyrians invade our country and break through our defenses, we will send our strongest leaders to fight them. 6 By force of arms they will conquer Assyria, the land of Nimrod, and they will save us from the Assyrians when they invade our territory.
7 The people of Israel who survive will be like refreshing dew sent by the Lord for many nations, like showers on growing plants. They will depend on God, not people. 8 Those who are left among the nations will be like a lion hunting for food in a forest or a pasture: it gets in among the sheep, pounces on them, and tears them to pieces—and there is no hope of rescue. 9 Israel will conquer her enemies and destroy them all.
10 The Lord says, “At that time I will take away your horses and destroy your chariots. 11 I will destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your defenses. 12 I will destroy the magic charms you use and leave you without any fortunetellers. 13 I will destroy your idols and sacred stone pillars; no longer will you worship the things that you yourselves have made. 14 I will pull down the images of the goddess Asherah in your land and destroy your cities. 15 And in my great anger I will take revenge on all nations that have not obeyed 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!”
