Isaiah 48:12–16

“Listen to me, O Jacob,

and Israel, whom I called!

I am he; I am the first,

and I am the last.

My hand laid the foundation of the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I call to them,

they stand forth together.

“Assemble, all of you, and listen!

Who among them has declared these things?

The Lord loves him;

he shall perform his purpose on Babylon,

and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.

I, even I, have spoken and called him;

I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way.

Draw near to me, hear this:

from the beginning I have not spoken in secret,

from the time it came to be I have been there.”

And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.

“Listen to me, Jacob,

Israel, whom I have called:

I am he;

I am the first and I am the last.

My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I summon them,

they all stand up together.

“Come together, all of you, and listen:

Which of the idols has foretold these things?

The Lord’s chosen ally

will carry out his purpose against Babylon;

his arm will be against the Babylonians.

I, even I, have spoken;

yes, I have called him.

I will bring him,

and he will succeed in his mission.

“Come near me and listen to this:

“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;

at the time it happens, I am there.”

And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me,

endowed with his Spirit.

“Listen to me, Jacob,

and Israel, the one called by me:

I am he; I am the first,

I am also the last.

My own hand founded the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I summoned them,

they stood up together.

All of you, assemble and listen!

Who among the idols has declared these things?

The Lord loves him;

he will accomplish his will against Babylon,

and his arm will be against the Chaldeans.

I—I have spoken;

yes, I have called him;

I have brought him,

and he will succeed in his mission.

Approach me and listen to this.

From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;

from the time anything existed, I was there.”

And now the Lord God

has sent me and his Spirit.

“Listen to me, O family of Jacob,

Israel my chosen one!

I alone am God,

the First and the Last.

It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,

my right hand that spread out the heavens above.

When I call out the stars,

they all appear in order.”

Have any of your idols ever told you this?

Come, all of you, and listen:

The Lord has chosen Cyrus as his ally.

He will use him to put an end to the empire of Babylon

and to destroy the Babylonian armies.

“I have said it: I am calling Cyrus!

I will send him on this errand and will help him succeed.

Come closer, and listen to this.

From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.”

And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit

have sent me with this message.

“Listen to me, Jacob,

and Israel, whom I called:

I am he. I am the first;

also I am the last.

Indeed, my hand founded the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I summon them, they stand in position together.

Assemble, all of you, and hear!

Who among them declared these things?

Yahweh loves him;

he shall perform his wish against Babylon

and his arm against the Chaldeans.

I, I myself, I have spoken!

Indeed, I have called him.

I have brought him,

and he will be successful in his way.

Draw near to me; hear this! I have not spoken in secrecy from the beginning;

from the time it came to be, there I have been;

And now the Lord Yahweh has sent me and his Spirit.”

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called;

I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth,

And my right hand hath spanned the heavens:

When I call unto them, they stand up together.

All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear;

Which among them hath declared these things?

The Lord hath loved him:

He will do his pleasure on Babylon,

And his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him:

I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this;

I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;

From the time that it was, there am I:

And now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.