Isaiah 44:28–45:6

²⁸I say about Cyrus,

‘He is my shepherd.

He will accomplish everything I want him to.

He will say about Jerusalem,

“Let it be rebuilt.”

And he will say about the temple,

“Let its foundations be laid.” ’

45“Cyrus is my anointed king.

I take hold of his right hand.

I give him the power

to bring nations under his control.

I help him strip kings of their power

to go to war against him.

I break city gates open so he can go through them.

I say to him,

²‘I will march out ahead of you.

I will make the mountains level.

I will break down bronze gates.

I will cut through their heavy iron bars.

³I will give you treasures that are hidden away in dark places.

I will give you riches that are stored up in secret places.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.

I am the God of Israel.

I am sending for you by name.

⁴Cyrus, I am sending for you by name.

I am doing it for the good of the family of Jacob.

They are my servants.

I am doing it for Israel.

They are my chosen people.

You do not know anything about me.

But I am giving you a title of honor.

⁵I am the Lord. There is no other Lord.

I am the one and only God.

You do not know anything about me.

But I will make you strong.

⁶Then people will know there is no God but me.

Everyone from where the sun rises in the east

to where it sets in the west will know it.

I am the Lord.

There is no other Lord.