Behold,I am going to stirup the Medesagainstthem, Whowill not valuesilveror takepleasurein gold.
In the ninthyearof Hoshea,the kingof AssyriacapturedSamariaand carriedIsraelawayinto exileto Assyria,and settledthem in Halahand Habor,[on] the riverof Gozan,and in the citiesof the Medes.
A harshvisionhas been shownto me; The treacherousone [still] dealstreacherously,and the destroyer[still] destroys.Goup, Elam,laysiege,Media;I have madean endof allthe groaningshe has caused.
"I have arousedone from the north,and he has come;From the risingof the sunhe will callon My name;And he will comeupon rulersas [upon] mortar,Even as the pottertreadsclay."
and allthe kingsof Zimri,allthe kingsof Elamand allthe kingsof Media;
"For a nationhas comeup againsther out of the north;it will makeher landan objectof horror,and there will be noinhabitantin it. Bothmanand beasthave wanderedoff, they have goneaway!
"Thereforeher youngmenwill fallin her streets,And allher menof warwill be silencedin that day,"declaresthe LORD.
"They seize[their] bowand javelin;They are crueland havenomercy.Their voiceroarslike the sea;And they rideon horses,Marshalledlike a manfor the battleAgainstyou, O daughterof Babylon.
"For behold,I am going to arouseand bringup againstBabylonA hordeof greatnationsfrom the landof the north,And they will drawup [their] battlelinesagainst her; From thereshe will be takencaptive.Their arrowswill be like an expertwarriorWho does not returnempty-handed.
Sharpenthe arrows,fillthe quivers!The LORDhas arousedthe spiritof the kingsof the Medes,BecauseHis purposeis againstBabylonto destroyit; For it is the vengeanceof the LORD,vengeancefor His temple.
"Thisis the interpretationof the message:'MENE--Godhas numberedyour kingdomand putan endto it.
