Isaiah 44:28–45:13

²⁸who says to Cyrus, ^f“My shepherd,

he will fulfill all My pleasure” ^g

and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” ^h

and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”

45The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed, ⁱ

whose right hand I have grasped ^j

to subdue nations before him,

to disarm ^kkings, ^l

to open the doors before him

and the gates will not be shut:

²“I will go before you

and level the uneven places; ^mn

I will shatter the bronze doors

and cut the iron bars in two. ^o

³I will give you the treasures of darkness

and riches from secret places, ^p

so that you may know that I, Yahweh,

the God of Israel call you by your name. ^q

⁴I call you by your name,

because of Jacob My servant ^r

and Israel My chosen one.

I give a name to you,

though you do not know Me.

⁵I am Yahweh, and there is no other; ^s

there is no God but Me. ^t

I will strengthen ^uyou,

though you do not know Me,

⁶so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting

that there is no one but Me. ^v

I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

⁷I form light and create darkness, ^w

I make success and create disaster; ^x

I, Yahweh, do all these things.

⁸“Heavens, sprinkle from above,

and let the skies shower righteousness. ^y

Let the earth open up

so that salvation will sprout

and righteousness will spring up with it. ^z

I, Yahweh, have created it.

⁹“Woe to the one who argues with his Maker—

one clay pot among many. ^a

Does clay say to the one forming it,

‘What are you making?’ ^b

Or does your work say,

‘He has no hands’? ^c

¹⁰How absurd is the one who says to his father,

‘What are you fathering?’

or to his mother,

‘What are you giving birth to?’ ”

¹¹This is what the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel ^dand its Maker, says:

“Ask Me what is to happen to ^eMy sons, ^f

and instruct Me about the work of My hands. ^g

¹²I made the earth,

and created man on it.

It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, ^h

and I commanded all their host.

¹³I have raised him up in righteousness, ⁱ

and will level all roads for him.

He will rebuild My city, ^j

and set My exiles free, ^k

not for a price or a bribe,”

says the Lord of Hosts.