And thisregarding Judah;so he said,"Hear,O LORD,the voiceof Judah,And bringhim to his people.With his handshe contendedfor them, And may You be a helpagainsthis adversaries."
Now there was a longwarbetweenthe houseof Sauland the houseof David;and Davidgrewsteadilystronger,but the houseof Saulgrewweakercontinually.
Then allthe tribesof Israelcameto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.
Then Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I goup againstthe Philistines?Will You givethem into my hand?"And the LORDsaidto David,"Goup, for I will certainlygivethe Philistinesinto your hand."
"It shall be, when you hearthe soundof marchingin the topsof the balsamtrees,thenyou shall actpromptly,for thenthe LORDwill have goneout beforeyou to strikethe armyof the Philistines."
For dayby day[men] cameto Davidto helphim, untilthere was a greatarmylike the armyof God.
How blessedis he whosehelpis the Godof Jacob,Whose hopeis in the LORDhis God,
May He sendyou helpfrom the sanctuaryAnd supportyou from Zion!
O LORD,in Your strengththe kingwill be glad,And in Your salvationhowgreatlyhe will rejoice!
Your handwill findout allyour enemies;Your righthandwill findout those who hateyou.
But chosethe tribeof Judah,MountZionwhichHe loved.
He also choseDavidHis servantAnd tookhim from the sheepfolds;
"My faithfulnessand My lovingkindnesswill be with him, And in My namehis hornwill be exalted.
Thereforethe Lorddoes not takepleasurein their youngmen,Nordoes He havepityon their orphansor their widows;For everyoneof them is godlessand an evildoer,And everymouthis speakingfoolishness.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
"But as for you, BethlehemEphrathah,[Too] littleto be among the clansof Judah,From you One will goforthfor Me to be rulerin Israel.His goingsforthare from longago,From the daysof eternity."
"Behold,I am going to sendMy messenger,and he will clearthe waybeforeMe. And the Lord,whomyou seek,will suddenlycometo His temple;and the messengerof the covenant,in whomyou delight,behold,He is coming,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
"Theseare the namesof the men:of the tribeof Judah,Calebthe sonof Jephunneh.
"But theseenemiesof mine,who did not wantme to reignoverthem, bringthem hereand slaythem in my presence."
For He mustreignuntilHe has putallHis enemiesunderHis feet.
For it is evidentthat our Lordwas descendedfrom Judah,a tribewith referenceto whichMosesspokenothingconcerningpriests.
Thisis the inheritanceof the tribeof the sonsof Judahaccording to their families.
