Micah 5:1-6

God will choose a ruler who will be born in Bethlehem

1 People of Jerusalem, prepare your soldiers to fight!

Our enemies are all around the city.

They are ready to attack us.

They will use a stick to hit Israel's ruler on his face.

2 ‘I speak to you, Bethlehem Ephrathah.

You are only a very small town among all the towns of Judah.

But I will cause someone to be born in you

who will rule Israel on my behalf.

He will be someone whose family started a very long time ago.’

3 So the Lord will put Israel's people under the power of their enemies.

That will continue until the time when the pregnant woman gives birth.

Then the ruler's own people will return.

They will join again with their relatives, Israel's people.

4 This ruler will take his place as king.

He will take care of his people,

as a shepherd takes care of his sheep.

He will rule with the strength of the Lord.

The Lord his God will give him royal authority to rule.

His people will live safely

because all people will give him honour.

People everywhere in the whole earth

will know that he is great.

5 He is the one who will give peace to his people.

If Assyria's army attacks our country,

they may try to destroy our strong buildings.

But we will choose our best leaders to fight against them,

seven or eight leaders, as many as we need.

6 These leaders will use their weapons

to take power over Assyria, Nimrod's land.

Assyria's soldiers may march into our land and try to attack us.

But our ruler will save us from them.