in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the power of Paras and Madai, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.
All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordekhai, to which the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Madai and Paras?
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, `Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Madai's sighing.
For many nations and great kings shall make bondservants of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Madai; because his purpose is against Bavel, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
Set up a standard in the land, blow the shofar among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough canker worm.