神应许一位掌权者出于伯利恒
Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
2伯利恒的以法他啊， 你在犹大诸城中虽小， 将来必有一位从你那里出来， 在以色列中为我作掌权者； 他的根源自亘古，从太初就有。But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3因此，耶和华要将以色列人交给敌人， 直到临产的妇人生下孩子； 那时，他其余的弟兄 必回到以色列人那里。Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4他必倚靠耶和华的大能， 倚靠耶和华－他神之名的威严， 站立并牧养， 使他们安然居住； 因为现在他必尊大， 直到地极。And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5这位就是和平☛“和平”或译“平安”。。解救和惩罚
当亚述侵入我们领土， 践踏我们宫殿时， 我们就立七个牧者， 八个领袖攻击它。And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
6他们要用刀剑毁坏亚述地 和宁录地的关口☛“宁录地的关口”：有古译本是“向宁录地拔出刀来”。。 当亚述侵入我们领土， 践踏我们边境时， 他必拯救我们。And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
7雅各的余民 必在许多民族中， 如从耶和华降下的露水， 又如甘霖降在草上； 他们不倚靠人， 也不仰赖世人。And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
8雅各的余民必在列国中， 在许多民族中， 如林间百兽中的狮子， 又如少壮狮子在羊群中； 他若经过就必践踏撕裂， 无人搭救。And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
9愿你的手举起，高过敌人！ 愿你的仇敌都被剪除！Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
10耶和华说：到那日， 我必从你中间剪除马匹， 毁坏战车；And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
11除灭你国中的城镇， 拆毁你一切的堡垒；And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
12除掉你手中的邪术， 你那里也不再有占卜的人。And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
13我必从你中间除灭雕刻的偶像和柱像， 你就不再跪拜自己手所造的；Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14我必从你中间拔除亚舍拉， 毁灭你的城镇；And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
15我必在怒气和愤怒中 报应那不听从我的列国。And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.