1 People of Jerusalem, gather your forces! We are besieged! They are attacking the leader of Israel!
God Promises a Ruler from Bethlehem
2 The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.”
3 So the Lord will abandon his people to their enemies until the woman who is to give birth has her son. Then those Israelites who are in exile will be reunited with their own people. 4 When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness, 5 and he will bring peace.
Deliverance and Punishment
When the Assyrians invade our country and break through our defenses, we will send our strongest leaders to fight them. 6 By force of arms they will conquer Assyria, the land of Nimrod, and they will save us from the Assyrians when they invade our territory.
7 The people of Israel who survive will be like refreshing dew sent by the Lord for many nations, like showers on growing plants. They will depend on God, not people. 8 Those who are left among the nations will be like a lion hunting for food in a forest or a pasture: it gets in among the sheep, pounces on them, and tears them to pieces—and there is no hope of rescue. 9 Israel will conquer her enemies and destroy them all.
10 The Lord says, “At that time I will take away your horses and destroy your chariots. 11 I will destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your defenses. 12 I will destroy the magic charms you use and leave you without any fortunetellers. 13 I will destroy your idols and sacred stone pillars; no longer will you worship the things that you yourselves have made. 14 I will pull down the images of the goddess Asherah in your land and destroy your cities. 15 And in my great anger I will take revenge on all nations that have not obeyed me.”
1 Aantu yaJerusalem, gongeleni omatanga geni. Otwa kondekwa! Otaa ponokele omuwiliki gwaIsrael.
Kalunga tu uvaneke omuleli ta zi muBetlehem
2 Omuwa ota ti: “Betlehem Efrata, ongoye gumwe gwomomikunda omishona muJuda, ihe omungoye tamu ka za omuleli gwaIsrael, oongoka gwomezimo lya za koohekulululwa yomuuyuni wonale.”Omuwa ota ti: “Betlehem… omungoye tamu ka za omuleli gwaIsrael.”
3 Osho ngeyi Omuwa te ethele aantu ye miikaha yaatondi yawo, sigo esiku ndyoka omuvali ta vala omwanamati. Nena aakwashilongo shaandjawo mboka ye li muupika, otaa ka hanganithwa naangandjawo. 4 Sho te ya, ota ka lela aantu ye noonkondo ndhoka dha za kOmuwa nonesimano lyOmuwa Kalunga mwene. Aantu ye otaa ka kala megameno, oshoka aantu ayehe yokombanda yevi otaa ka zimina uunene we, 5 note ke eta ombili.
Ehupitho negeelo
Aayassur ngele taa matukile oshilongo shetu e taa hanagula po omagameneno getu, otatu ke ya tumina aawiliki yetu aanankondo, ye ke ya kondjithe. 6 Noonkondo dhomatati otaa ka sinda Assur, oshilando shaNimrod, notaye tu hupitha miikaha yAayassur, ngele taa totele oshilongo shetu.
7 Aantu yomuIsrael mboka taa ka hupa ko mokati kiigwana oyindji, otaa ka kala ya fa omata gomume ga tumwa kOmuwa noya fa iihomo yomvula kiimeno iitalala. Otashi uthwa kOmuwa, hakomuntu. 8 Mboka taa ka hupa ko mokati kiigwana, otaa ka kala ya fa onime tayi weye yi ikongele iikulya mokuti nenge melundu; otayi itsu oshigunda shoonzi, tayi dhi nukile e tayi dhi tuulagula — nokape na etegameno lyehupitho. 9 Israel ota ka sinda aatondi ye e te ya hanagula po ayehe.
10 Omuwa ota ti: “Pomasiku ngoka otandi ka kutha po uukambe woye notandi ka yonagula po omatembakwiita goye. 11 Otandi ka hanagula po iilando yomoshilongo shoye e tandi kumuna po omagameneno goye. 12 Otandi ka hanagula po oonkondo dhuumpulile woye e to ka kala waa na we aayanekeli. 13 Otandi ka yonagula po iimenka yoye noongudhimanya dhoye oondjapuki; ito ka simaneka we iinima we yi ningi ngoye mwene. 14 Otandi ka kumuna po iiyelekela yoshikalunga Asheera moshilongo e tandi yonagula po iilando yoye. 15 Nomuupyundjahi wandje otandi ka galulila iigwana ayihe shoka ye shi ilongela, sho inaayi vulika kungame.”
