1. Marshal your troops now, city of troops,for a siege is laid against us.They will strike Israel’s ruleron the cheek with a rod.
2. ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,though you are small among the clans of Judah,out of you will come for meone who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old,from ancient times.’
3. Therefore Israel will be abandoneduntil the time when she who is in labour bears a son,and the rest of his brothers returnto join the Israelites.