Cyrus, God’s Instrument
1 “Thus says theLordto His anointed,
# ToCyrus, whoseright hand I have held—
# To subdue nations before him
# Andloose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
2 ‘I will go before you
# And make the crooked places straight;
# I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
# That you may know that I, theLord,
# Whocallyouby your name,
Amthe God of Israel.
4 ForJacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
5 IamtheLord, andthereisno other;
Thereisno God besides Me.
# I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
6 That they mayknow from the rising of the sun to its setting
Thatthereisnone besides Me.
IamtheLord, andthereisno other;
7 I form the light and create darkness,
# I make peace andcreate calamity;
I, theLord, do all thesethings.’
8 “Raindown, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, theLord, have created it.
9 “Woe to him who strives withhis Maker!
Letthe potsherdstrivewith the potsherds of the earth!
# Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
Or shall your handiworksay,‘He has no hands’?
10 Woe to him who says tohisfather, ‘What are you begetting?’
Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ”
11 Thus says theLord,
The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:
# “Ask Me of things to come concerningMy sons;
# And concerningthe work of My hands, you command Me.
12 I have made the earth,
# Andcreated man on it.
I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,
# Andall their host I have commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness,
And I will direct all his ways;
# He shallbuild My city
And let My exiles go free,
# Not for price nor reward,”
Says theLordof hosts.
The Lord, the Only Savior
14 Thus says theLord:
# “The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush
And of the Sabeans, men of stature,
Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours;
They shall walk behind you,
# They shall come overin chains;
And they shall bow down to you.
# They will make supplication to you,saying,‘Surely Godisin you,
Andthereisno other;
# Thereisno other God.’ ”
15 Truly YouareGod,who hide Yourself,
O God of Israel, the Savior!
16 They shall beashamed
And also disgraced, all of them;
They shall go in confusion together,
Whoaremakers of idols.
17 ButIsrael shall be saved by theLord
# With aneverlasting salvation;
# You shall not be ashamed ordisgraced
Forever and ever.
18 For thus says theLord,
# Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
# Who formed it to beinhabited:
# “IamtheLord, andthereisno other.
19 I have not spoken insecret,
In a dark place of the earth;
I did not say to the seed of Jacob,
‘Seek Me in vain’;
# I, theLord, speak righteousness,
I declare things that are right.
20 “Assemble yourselves and come;
Draw near together,
Youwhohaveescaped from the nations.
# They have no knowledge,
Who carry the wood of their carved image,
And pray to a godthatcannot save.
21 Tell and bring forthyourcase;
Yes, let them take counsel together.
# Who has declared this from ancient time?
Whohas told it from that time?
Havenot I, theLord?
# Andthereisno other God besides Me,
A just God and a Savior;
Thereisnone besides Me.
22 “Look to Me, and be saved,
# All you ends of the earth!
For IamGod, andthereisno other.
23 I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouthinrighteousness,
And shall not return,
# That to Me everyknee shall bow,
# Every tongue shall take an oath.
24 He shall say,
# ‘Surely in theLordI haverighteousness and strength.
To Himmenshall come,
# Andall shall be ashamed
Who are incensed against Him.
25 In theLordall the descendants of Israel
# Shall be justified, andshall glory.’ ”