The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

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- Chapter 45 -

(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)

This is what Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, in order to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, and to open the doors before him, so that gates remain open:

“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut in pieces their iron bars,

and I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden away, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, I, the God of Israel.

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name: Giving you a title of honor, though you have not known me.

I am Yahweh, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will arm you for battle, though you have not known me;

that people may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no god but me: I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I form the light and create darkness; I bring peace and create disaster; I am Yahweh, who does all these things.

You heavens, rain down from above! Let the skies rain down righteousness. Let the earth absorb it, that salvation may sprout up, and righteousness spring up together with it. I, Yahweh, have created them both.

Woe 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! Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles on it’?

Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you fathering?’ or to a woman, ‘What are you giving birth to?’

This is what Yahweh says, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker: ‘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?’

’I made the earth and created man on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all the stars to appear.

I stirred Cyrus up in righteousness, and I will smooth out all his paths. He will build my city; he will let my exiled people go home, and not for price nor bribe,’” says Yahweh of hosts.

This is what Yahweh says, “The earnings of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia with the Sabeans, men of tall stature, will be brought to you. They will be yours. They will follow after you, coming in chains. They will bow down to you and plead with you saying, ‘Surely God is with you, and there is no other except him.’”

Truly you are a God who hides yourself, God of Israel, Savior.

They will all be ashamed and disgraced together; those who carve idols will walk in humiliation.

But Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated.

This is what Yahweh says, who created the heavens, the true God who created the earth and made it, who established it. He created it, not as a waste, but designed it to be inhabited: “I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in private, in some hidden place; I did not say to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am Yahweh, who speaks sincerely; I declare the things that are right.

Assemble yourselves and come! Gather together, you refugees from among the nations! They have no knowledge, those who carry carved images and pray to gods that cannot save.

Come close and declare it to me, bring the evidence! Let them conspire together. Who has shown this from long ago? Who announced it? Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no God except me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides me.

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

By myself I swear, speaking my just decree, and it will not turn back: ’To me every knee will bend, every tongue will swear.

They will say of me, “In Yahweh alone are salvation and strength.”’” They will all be ashamed who are angry at him.

In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will be justified; they will take pride in him.

(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)

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:

“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of bronze in pieces and cut apart the bars of iron.

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 calls you by your name, even the God of Israel.

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.

I am the LORD, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen(a) you, though you have not known me,

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.

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

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.

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’?

Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you given birth to?’”

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!

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

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

The LORD says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you, and they will be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains. They will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god.

Most certainly you are a God who has hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’”

They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together.

Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.

For the LORD who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited says: “I am the LORD. There is no other.

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

“Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can’t save.

Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, the LORD? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. There is no one besides me.

“Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.

They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in the LORD.’” Even to him will men come. All those who raged against him will be disappointed.

All the offspring of Israel will be justified in the LORD, and will rejoice!

Footnotes

(a)45:5 or, equip