Isaiah 45

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right
Hand he will empower. Before him mighty kings will be paralyzed
With fear; their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again
This is what the LORD says: I will go before you, Cyrus, and
Level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut
Through bars of iron. I will give you treasures hidden in the
Darkness, secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I
Am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name

And why have I called you for this work? Why did I
Call you by name when you did not know me? It is for
The sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one
I am the LORD. There is no other God. I have equipped you
For battle, though you don't even know me, so all the world
From east to west, will know that there is no other God
I am the LORD, and there is no other. I create the
Light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad
Times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things

Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness!
Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness
Can sprout up together. I, the LORD, created them

What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator!
Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute
With the one who shapes it, saying, "Stop! You're doing
It wrong!" Does the pot exclaim, "How clumsy can you be?"
How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said
To its father, "Why was I born?" Or if it said
To its mother, "Why did you make me this way?"

This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel and
Your Creator: Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on
It. With my hands I stretched out the heavens; all the stars
Are at my command. I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my
Righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. He will restore
My city and free my captive people, without seeking a reward
I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken

This is what the LORD says: You will rule the Egyptians, the
Ethiopians, and the Sabeans. They will come to you with all their
Merchandise, and it will all be yours. They will follow you as
Prisoners in chains. They will fall to their knees in front of you
And say, "God is with you, and he
Is the only God. There is no other."

Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in
Mysterious ways. All craftsmen who make idols will
Be humiliated. They will all be disgraced together
But the LORD will save the people of Israel with
Eternal salvation. Throughout everlasting ages
They will never again be humiliated and disgraced

For the LORD is God, and he created the heavens and
Earth and put everything in place. He made the world
To be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos
I am the LORD, he says, and there is no other. I publicly proclaim
Bold promises; I do not whisper obscurities in some
Dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel
To seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD
Speak only what is true and declare only what is right

Gather together and come, you fugitives from surrounding
Nations. What fools they are who carry around their
Wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save!
Consult together. Argue your case. Get together and decide
What to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What
Idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the LORD?
For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior

There is none but me! Let all the world look to me for salvation
For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name
I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word
Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance
To me. The people will declare, "The LORD is the source of all
My righteousness and strength." And all who were angry with
Him will come to him and be ashamed. In the LORD all the
Generations of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast