Isaiah 45
1This is what Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, 1 in order to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, 1 and to open the doors before him, so that gates remain open: 1
2“I will go before you and level the mountains; 1 I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut in pieces their iron bars, 1
3and I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden away, 1 that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, I, the God of Israel. 1
4For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, 1 I have called you by your name, giving you a title of honor, though you have not known me. 1
5I am Yahweh, and there is no other; there is no God but me. 1 I will arm you for battle, though you have not known me; 1
6that people may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no god but me: 1 I am Yahweh, and there is no other. 1
7I form the light and create darkness; 1 I bring peace and create disaster; I am Yahweh, who does all these things. 1
8You heavens, rain down from above! Let the skies rain down righteousness. 1 Let the earth absorb it, that salvation may sprout up, 1 and righteousness spring up together with it. I, Yahweh, have created them both. 1
9Woe to anyone who argues with the one who formed him, to him who is like any other earthen pot among all the earthen pots in the ground! 1 Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles on it'? 1
10Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you fathering?' or to a woman, 'What are you giving birth to?' 1
11This is what Yahweh says, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker: 1 'Why do you ask questions about what I will do for my children? Do you tell me what to do concerning the work of my hands?' 1
12'I made the earth and created man on it. 1 It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all the stars to appear. 1
13I stirred Cyrus up in righteousness, and I will smooth out all his paths. 1 He will build my city; he will let my exiled people go home, and not for price nor bribe,'” says Yahweh of hosts. 1
14This is what Yahweh says, 1 “The earnings of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush with the Sabeans, men of tall stature, 1 will be brought to you. They will be yours. They will follow after you, coming in chains. 1 They will bow down to you and plead with you saying, 1 'Surely God is with you, and there is no other except him.'” 1
15Truly you are a God who hides yourself, God of Israel, Savior. 1
16They will all be ashamed and disgraced together; those who carve idols will walk in humiliation. 1
17But Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; 1 you will never again be ashamed or humiliated. 1
18This is what Yahweh says, who created the heavens, the true God 1 who created the earth and made it, who established it. 1 He created it, not as a waste, but designed it to be inhabited: 1 “I am Yahweh, and there is no other. 1
19I have not spoken in private, in some hidden place; 1 I did not say to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain!' 1 I am Yahweh, who speaks sincerely; I declare the things that are right. 1
20Assemble yourselves and come! Gather together, you refugees from among the nations! 1 They have no knowledge, those who carry carved images and pray to gods that cannot save. 1
21Come close and declare it to me, bring the evidence! Let them conspire together. 1 Who has shown this from long ago? Who announced it? 1 Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no God except me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. 1
22Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; 1 for I am God, and there is no other. 1
23By myself I swear, 1 speaking my just decree, and it will not turn back: 1 'To me every knee will bend, every tongue will swear. 1
24They will say of me, “In Yahweh alone are salvation and strength.”'” 1 They will all be ashamed who are angry at him. 1
25In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will be justified; they will take pride in him.