Isaiah 45

1Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;footnote a

2I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

3And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

4For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

5I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

10Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

11Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

13I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.footnote b

14Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

15Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

16They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

18For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

20Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

21Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

24Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.footnote cfootnote d

25In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

God Calls Cyrus

1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed,whose right hand I have graspedto subdue nations before him,to disarm kings,to open the doors before him,so that the gates will not be shut:

2“I will go before youand level the mountains;footnote aI will break down the gates of bronzeand cut through the bars of iron. 3I will give you the treasures of darknessand the riches hidden in secret places,so that you may know that I am the LORD,the God of Israel, who calls you by name. 4For the sake of Jacob My servantand Israel My chosen one,I call you by name;I have given you a title of honor,though you have not known Me.

5I am the LORD, and there is no other;there is no God but Me.I will equip you for battle,though you have not known Me, 6so that all may know,from where the sun rises to where it sets,that there is none but Me;I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7I form the light and create the darkness;I bring prosperity and create calamity.I, the LORD, do all these things.

8Drip down, O heavens, from above,and let the skies pour down righteousness.Let the earth open up that salvation may sproutand righteousness spring up with it;I, the LORD, have created it.

9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many.Does the clay ask the potter,‘What are you making?’footnote bDoes your work say,‘He has no hands’? 10Woe to him who says to his father,‘What have you begotten?’or to his mother,‘What have you brought forth?’”

11Thus says the LORD,the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:“Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons,or instruct Me in the work of My hands? 12It is I who made the earthand created man upon it.It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,and I ordained all their host. 13I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness,and I will make all his ways straight.He will rebuild My cityand set My exiles free,but not for payment or reward,says the LORD of Hosts.”

14This is what the LORD says:“The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,footnote calong with the Sabeans, men of stature,will come over to youand will be yours;they will trudge behind 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.’”

15Truly You are a God who hides Himself,O God of Israel, the Savior. 16They will all be put to shame and humiliated;the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace. 17But Israel will be saved by the LORDwith an everlasting salvation;you will not be put to shame or humiliated,to ages everlasting.

18For thus says the LORD,who created the heavens—He is God;He formed the earth and fashioned it;He established it;He did not create it to be empty,but formed it to be inhabited:“I am the LORD,and there is no other. 19I have not spoken in secret,from a place in a land of darkness.I did not say to the descendants of Jacob,‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’I, the LORD, speak the truth;I say what is right.

20Come, gather together, and draw near,you fugitives from the nations.Ignorant are those who carry idols of woodand pray to a god that cannot save. 21Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together.Who foretold 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 none but Me.

22Turn to Me and be saved,all the ends of the earth;for I am God,and there is no other. 23By Myself I have sworn;truth has gone out from My mouth,a word that will not be revoked:Every knee will bow before Me,every tongue will swear allegiance.footnote d 24Surely they will say of Me,‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’”All who rage against Himwill come to Him and be put to shame. 25In the LORD all descendants of Israelwill be justified and will exult.