Yahweh says: “Now, carry out my instructions to the letter. Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod! Kill them and destroy everything they leave behind.
I am the one who has sent him against a godless nation and ordered him to attack a people who anger me. I sent him to take the spoil and seize the plunder and to trample them down like dust in the street.
I say concerning Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he will carry out all the purposes I have for him,’ saying to Jerusalem, ‘You will be rebuilt and flourish again!’ saying to the temple, ‘You will be reconstructed!’ ”
Now, all of you gather around and listen. Which of the gods has foretold these things? I, Yahweh, love this man, and he will carry out my purpose against Babylon. He will be my ‘arm of might’ against the Babylonians!
Raise the war cry against her from all sides. She surrenders! The attackers have broken down her fortifications and walls. This is Yahweh’s vengeance! Take revenge on her. Do to them what they did to others.
For listen, I am stirring up trouble out of the north against Babylon, and raising up a coalition of mighty nations to attack her. They will take up battle positions against her and conquer her. Their arrows are like a skilled soldier who kills and never returns empty-handed.
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, young and handsome men, all governors, officials, and warriors—all of them skillful horsemen.