Isaiah 44:28–45:4

²⁸“It is I who says of ^aCyrus, ‘He is My shepherd!

And he will perform all My desire.’

And ¹he declares of Jerusalem, ‘^bShe will be built,’

And of the temple, ‘²Your foundation will be laid.’ ”

Chapter 45

God Uses Cyrus

¹Thus says the Lord to ^aCyrus His anointed,

Whom I have taken by the right ^bhand,

To ^csubdue nations before him

And ¹to ^dloose the loins of kings;

To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

²“I will go before you and ^amake the ¹rough places smooth;

I will ^bshatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron ^cbars.

³“I will give you the ^1atreasures of darkness

And hidden wealth of secret places,

So that you may know that it is I,

The Lord, the God of Israel, who ^bcalls you by your name.

⁴“For the sake of ^aJacob My servant,

And Israel My chosen one,

I have also ^bcalled you by your name;

I have given you a title of honor

Though you have ^cnot known Me.