Chapter 45
1 The Lord says this to Cyrus, his anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and disarm kings, to open doors before him, and even city gates will not be shut:
2 "I will go before you and level the uneven places; , I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord . I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
4 I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me.
5 I am the Lord , and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me,
6 so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord , and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the Lord , who does all these things.
8 "Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness. Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it. I, the Lord , have created it.
9 "Woe to the one who argues with his Maker — one clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making? ’ Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to his father, ‘What are you fathering? ’ or to his mother, ‘What are you giving birth to? ’ "
11 This is what the Lord , the Holy One of Israel and its Maker, says: "Ask me what is to happen to my sons, and instruct me about the work of my hands.
12 I made the earth, and created humans on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded everything in them.
13 I have stirred him up in righteousness, and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild my city, and set my exiles free, not for a price or a bribe," says the Lord of Armies.
14 This is what the Lord says: "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will follow you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you, ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’ "
15 Yes, you are a God who hides, God of Israel, Savior.
16 All of them are put to shame, even humiliated; the makers of idols go in humiliation together.
17 Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated for all eternity.
18 For this is what the Lord says — the Creator of the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, the one who established it (he did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited) — he says, "I am the Lord , and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek me in a wasteland. I am the Lord , who speaks righteously, who declares what is right.
20 "Come, gather together, and approach, you fugitives of the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols and pray to a god who cannot save have no knowledge.
21 Speak up and present your case , — yes, let them consult each other. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the Lord ? There is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior; there is no one except me.
22 Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 It will be said about me, ‘Righteousness and strength are found only in the Lord .’ " All who are enraged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
25 All the descendants of Israel will be justified and boast in the Lord .