12 I made the earth, and I created the people on it. I used my own hands to make the skies. And I command all the armies in the sky.
13 I was right to give power to Cyrus, and I will make his work easy. He will rebuild my city, and he will set my people free without bribes or payment.” The Lord All-Powerful said this.
14 The Lord says, “Egypt and Ethiopia are rich, but, Israel, you will get those riches. The tall people from Seba will be yours. They will walk behind you with chains around their necks. They will bow down before you and ask you to pray for them and say, ‘The true God really is with you, and there is no other God.’”
15 You are the God people cannot see. You are the God who saves Israel.
16 Many people make false gods, but they will be disappointed. All of them will go away ashamed.
17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord. That salvation will continue forever. Never again will Israel be shamed.
18 The Lord is God. He made the skies and the earth. He put the earth in its place. He did not want the earth to be empty when he made it. He created it to be lived on. “I am the Lord. There is no other God.