17. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver, and as for gold, they will not delight in it.

18. Their bows will dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb. Their eyes will not spare children.

19. Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

20. It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.

21. But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there.

22. Wolves will cry in their fortresses, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged.

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 Media's sighing.

Who has raised up one from the east?Who called him to his foot in righteousness?He hands over nations to him,and makes him rule over kings.He gives them like the dust to his sword,like the driven stubble to his bow.

Who says of CYRUS, 'He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,'even saying of Jerusalem, 'She will be built;'and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

1. The LORD says to his anointed, to CYRUS, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:

2. "I will go before you,and make the rough places smooth.I will break the doors of brass in pieces,and cut apart the bars of iron.

3. I will give you the treasures of darkness,and hidden riches of secret places,that you may know that it is I, The LORD, who call you by your name,even the God of Israel.

4. For Jacob my servant's sake,and Israel my chosen,I have called you by your name.I have given you a title,though you have not known me.

5. I am The LORD, and there is no one else.Besides me, there is no God.I will strengthen you,though you have not known me;

6. that they may know from the rising of the sun,and from the west,that there is no one besides me.I am The LORD, and there is no one else.

7. I form the light,and create darkness.I make peace,and create calamity.I am The LORD,who does all these things.

8. Rain, you heavens, from above,and let the skies pour down righteousness.Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation,and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it.I, The LORD, have created it.

9. Woe to him who strives with his Maker-a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth!Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?'or your work, 'He has no hands?'

10. Woe to him who says to a father, 'What have you become the father of?'or to a mother, 'To what have you given birth?'"

11. The LORD, the Holy One of Israel,and his Maker says:"You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons,and you command me concerning the work of my hands!

12. I have made the earth, and created man on it.I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens;and I have commanded all their army.

13. I have raised him up in righteousness,and I will make straight all his ways.He shall build my city,and he shall let my exiles go free,not for price nor reward," says the LORD of Hosts.

I call a ravenous bird from the east,the man of my counsel from a far country.Yes, I have spoken.I will also bring it to pass.I have planned.I will also do it.