5:1  NOW GATHER yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; a state of siege has been placed against us. They shall smite the ruler of Israel with a rod (a scepter) on the cheek.

5:2  But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

5:3  Therefore shall He give them up until the time that she who travails has brought forth; then what is left of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel.

5:4  And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall dwell [secure], for then shall He be great [even] to the ends of the earth.

5:5  And this [One] shall be our peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads upon our soil {and} in our palaces, then will we raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes among men.

5:6  And they shall rule {and} waste the land of Assyria with the sword and the land of Nimrod within her [Assyria's own] gates. Thus shall He [the Messiah] deliver us from the Assyrian [representing the opposing powers] when he comes into our land and when he treads on our borders.

5:7  Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers upon the grass which [come suddenly and] tarry not for man nor wait for the sons of men.

5:8  And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations in the midst of many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion [suddenly appearing] among the flocks of sheep which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no deliverer.

5:9  Your hand will be lifted up above your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.

5:10  And in that day, says the Lord, I will cut off your horses [on which you depend] from among you and will destroy your chariots.

5:11  And I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.

5:12  And I will cut off witchcrafts {and} sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers.

5:13  Your carved images also I will cut off and your statues {or} pillars out of your midst, and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.

5:14  And I will root out your Asherim [symbols of the goddess Asherah] and I will destroy your cities [the seats of false worship].

5:15  And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance upon the nations which would not obey [vengeance such as they have not heard of before].