1 The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one:I have taken holdof your right handto help you capture nationsand remove kings from power.City gates will open for you;not one will stay closed.
2 As I lead you,I will level mountainsand break the iron barson bronze gates of cities.
3 I will give you treasureshidden in darkand secret places.Then you will know that I,the Lord God of Israel,have called you by name.
4 Cyrus, you don't even know me!But I have called you by nameand highly honored youbecause of Israel,my chosen servant.
5 Only I am the Lord!There are no other gods.I have made you strong,though you don't know me.
6 Now everyone from east to westwill learn that I am the Lord.No other gods are real.
7 I create light and darkness,happiness and sorrow.I, the Lord, do all this.
8 Tell the heavensto send down justicelike showers of rain.Prepare the earthfor my saving powerto sprout and produce justicethat I, the Lord, create.
9 Israel, you have no rightto argue with your Creator.You are merely a clay potshaped by a potter.The clay doesn't ask,“Why did you make me this way?Where are the handles?”
10 Children don't have the rightto demand of their parents,“What have you doneto make us what we are?”
11 I am the Lord, the Creator,the holy God of Israel.Do you dare question meabout my own nationor about what I have done?
12 I created the worldand covered it with people;I stretched out the skyand filled it with stars.
13 I have done the right thingby placing Cyrus in power,and I will make the roads easyfor him to follow.I am the Lord All-Powerful!Cyrus will rebuild my cityand set my people freewithout being paid a thing.I, the Lord, have spoken.
14 My people, I, the Lord, promisethat the riches of Egyptand the treasures of Ethiopiawill belong to you.You will force into slaverythose tall people of Seba.They will bow down and say,“The only true God is with you;there are no other gods.”
15 People of Israel,your God is a mystery,though he alone can save.
16 Anyone who makes idolswill be confusedand terribly disgraced.
17 But Israel, I, the Lord,will always keep you safeand free from shame.
18 The Lord alone is God!He created the heavensand made a worldwhere people can live,instead of creatingan empty desert.The Lord alone is God;there are no others.
19 The Lord did not speakin a dark secret placeor command Jacob's descendantsto search for him in vain.The Lord speaks the truth,and this is what he says
20 to every survivorfrom every nation:“Gather around me!Learn how senseless it isto worship wooden idolsor pray to helpless gods.
21 “Why don't you get togetherand meet me in court?Didn't I tell you long agowhat would happen?I am the only God!There are no others.I bring about justice,and have the power to save.
22 “I invite the whole worldto turn to me and be saved.I alone am God!No others are real.
23 I have made a solemn promise,one that won't be broken:Everyone will bow downand worship me.
24 They will admit that I alonecan bring about justice.Everyone who is angry with mewill be terribly ashamedand will turn to me.
25 I, the Lord, will givevictory and great honorto the people of Israel.”