¹⁷ See, I will stir up^(A) against them the Medes,^(B)
    who do not care for silver
    and have no delight in gold.^(C)

¹¹ “Sharpen the arrows,^(A)
    take up the shields!^(B)
The Lord has stirred up the kings^(C) of the Medes,^(D)
    because his purpose^(E) is to destroy Babylon.
The Lord will take vengeance,^(F)
    vengeance for his temple.^(G)

³⁴ For jealousy^(A) arouses a husband’s fury,^(B)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.^(C)

²⁵ “I have stirred^(A) up one from the north,^(B) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads^(C) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.

² A dire^(A) vision has been shown to me:
    The traitor betrays,^(B) the looter takes loot.
Elam,^(C) attack! Media,^(D) lay siege!
    I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

²⁷ “Lift up a banner^(A) in the land!
    Blow the trumpet among the nations!
Prepare the nations for battle against her;
    summon against her these kingdoms:^(B)
    Ararat,^(C) Minni and Ashkenaz.^(D)
Appoint a commander against her;
    send up horses like a swarm of locusts.^(E)
28 Prepare the nations for battle against her—
    the kings of the Medes,^(F)
their governors and all their officials,
    and all the countries they rule.^(G)

⁹ For I will stir^(A) up and bring against Babylon
    an alliance of great nations^(B) from the land of the north.^(C)
They will take up their positions against her,
    and from the north she will be captured.^(D)
Their arrows^(E) will be like skilled warriors
    who do not return empty-handed.

³ I have commanded those I prepared for battle;
    I have summoned my warriors^(A) to carry out my wrath^(B)—
    those who rejoice^(C) in my triumph.

⁴ Listen, a noise on the mountains,
    like that of a great multitude!^(D)
Listen, an uproar^(E) among the kingdoms,
    like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty^(F) is mustering^(G)
    an army for war.
⁵ They come from faraway lands,
    from the ends of the heavens^(H)—
the Lord and the weapons^(I) of his wrath^(J)—
    to destroy^(K) the whole country.