| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now, daughter who is under attack, you slash yourself in grief; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod. | 1Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. |
| 2Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. | 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. |
| 3Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler's brothers will return to the people of Israel. | 3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel. |
| 4He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. | 4He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. |
| 5He will be their peace. When Assyria invades our land, when it marches against our fortresses, we will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. | 5And He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and tramples our citadels. We will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. |
| 6They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade. So he will rescue us from Assyria when it invades our land, when it marches against our territory. | 6And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn. So He will deliver us when Assyria invades our land and marches into our borders. |
| 7Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or linger for mankind. | 7Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind. |
| 8Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples, like a lion among animals of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, and there is no one to rescue them. | 8Then 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 tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them. |
| 9Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be destroyed. | 9Your hand will be lifted over your foes, and all your enemies will be cut off. |
| 10In that day--this is the LORD's declaration--I will remove your horses from you and wreck your chariots. | 10“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will remove your horses from among you and wreck your chariots. |
| 11I will remove the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses. | 11I will remove the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. |
| 12I will remove sorceries from your hands, and you will not have any more fortune-tellers. | 12I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers. |
| 13I will remove your carved images and sacred pillars from you so that you will no longer worship the work of your hands. | 13I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands. |
| 14I will pull up the Asherah poles from among you and demolish your cities. | 14I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities. |
| 15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath against the nations that have not obeyed me. | 15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.” |
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