[1] Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have
grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to
open doors before him that gates may not be closed: [2] "I will go before
you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and
cut asunder the bars of iron, [3] I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name. [4] For the sake of my
servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname
you, though you do not know me. [5] I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me, [6] that
men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is
none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. [7] I form light and
create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the LORD, who do all
these things. [8] "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain
down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth,
and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; I the LORD have created
it. [9] "Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the
potter! Does the clay say to him who fashions it, `What are you making'? or
`Your work has no handles'? [10] Woe to him who says to a father, `What are
you begetting?' or to a woman, `With what are you in travail?'" [11] Thus
says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Will you question me
about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? [12] I
made the earth, and created man upon it; it was my hands that stretched out
the heavens, and I commanded all their host. [13] I have aroused him in
righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways; he shall build my
city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward," says the LORD of
hosts. [14] Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of
Ethiopia, and the Sabe'ans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be
yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down
to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: `God is with you only,
and there is no other, no god besides him.'" [15] Truly, thou art a God who
hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior. [16] All of them are put to
shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in confusion together. [17]
But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not
be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. [18] For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he
established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be
inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other. [19] I did not speak in
secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
`Seek me in chaos.' I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.
[20] "Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, you survivors of
the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and
keep on praying to a god that cannot save. [21] Declare and present your
case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared
it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a
righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides 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, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
a word that shall not return: `To me every knee shall bow, every tongue
shall swear.' [24] "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are
righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed, all who were
incensed against him. [25] In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall
triumph and glory."