Isaiah 45
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut;
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:
2 I will go before thee, and make the rugged places plain: I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
“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,
3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD, which call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.
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.
4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
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.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else; beside me there is no God: I will gird thee, though thou hast 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;
6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me: I am the LORD, and there is none else.
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.
7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things.
I form the light and create darkness; I bring peace and create disaster; I am Yahweh, who does all these things.
8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, that they may bring forth salvation, and let her cause righteousness to spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
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.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
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'?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, with what travailest thou?
Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you fathering?' or to a woman, 'What are you giving birth to?'
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.
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?'
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
'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.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
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.
14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine; they shall go after thee; in chains they shall come over: and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
This is what Yahweh says, “The earnings of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush 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.'”
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
Truly you are a God who hides yourself, God of Israel, Savior.
16 They shall be ashamed, yea, confounded, all of them: they shall go into confusion together that are makers of idols.
They will all be ashamed and disgraced together; those who carve idols will walk in humiliation.
17 [But] Israel shall be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
But Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; he is God; that formed the earth and made it; he established it, he created it not a waste, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
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.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
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.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
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.
21 Declare ye, and bring [it] forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath shewed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a saviour; there is none beside me.
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.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
By myself I swear, speaking my just decree, and it will not turn back: 'To me every knee will bend, every tongue will swear.
24 Only in the LORD, shall one say unto me, is righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come, and all they that were incensed against him shall be ashamed.
They will say of me, “In Yahweh alone are salvation and strength.”'” They will all be ashamed who are angry at him.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will be justified; they will take pride in him.
