28 Get the nations ready for battle against her.\par Get the kings of the Medes {\cf2\super [423]} ready.\par Get their governors and all their important officials ready.\par Get all the countries they rule ready for battle against Babylon.\par
28 Prepare and dedicate the nations for war against her–the kings of Media, with their governors and commanders (deputies), and every land of their dominion.
28 Sanctify the nations against her: the kings of Media, their military leaders, and all their civil leaders, and the entire land under their authority.
Sharpen the arrows!\par Get your shields!\par The Lord stirred up the kings\par of the Medes. {\cf2\super [418]} \par He has stirred them up\par because he wants to destroy Babylon.\par The Lord will give the people of Babylon\par the punishment that they deserve.\par The army from Babylon destroyed\par the Lord’s temple {\cf2\super [419]} in Jerusalem.\par So the Lord will give them\par the punishment they should have.\par
These things happened during the first year that Darius was king. Darius was the son of a man named Ahasuerus. {\cf2\super [99]} Darius belonged to the Median people. He became king over Babylon.
Now, king, make the law and sign the paper it is written on. In this way, the law can’t be changed. Why? Because the laws of the Medes and Persians can’t be canceled or changed.”
“Lift up the war flag in the land!\par Blow the trumpet in all the nations!\par Prepare the nations for war against Babylon!\par Call these kingdoms to come fight\par against Babylon:\par Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.\par Choose a commander to lead the army\par against her.\par Send so many horses\par that they are like a swarm of locusts. {\cf2\super [422]} \par
I have seen something very terrible\par that will happen.\par I see traitors {\cf2\super [205]} turning against you.\par I see people taking your wealth.\par
\{God says,\} “Look, I will cause the armies of Media to attack Babylon. \{The armies of Media will not stop attacking,\} even if they are paid silver and gold.
And all the great things that Xerxes did are written in the Book of History of the Kings of Media and Persia. And also written in those history books are all the things that Mordecai did. The king made Mordecai a great man.
In the third year of Xerxes’ rule, he gave a party for his officers and leaders. The army leaders and important leaders from all of Persia and Media were there.
Yes, the people of Babylon will have to serve many nations and many great kings. I will give them the punishment they deserve for all the things they will do.”
“Look!\par There are people coming from the north.\par They come from a powerful nation.\par Many kings are coming together\par from all around the world.\par
The land shakes and moves like it is in pain.\par It will shake when the Lord does what he planned to Babylon.\par The Lord’s plan is to make the land of Babylon into an empty desert.\par No person will live there.\par