1 This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have gripped, to beat down nations before him and to strip the belts from the waists of kings, to open doors ahead of him so that gates will not stay shut:
2 "I myself will go ahead of you and flatten the hill country; I will smash the bronze doors and hack through the iron bars.
3 I will hand you treasures hidden in darkness and riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one, I summoned you by your name; I gave you a title of honor, though you did not know me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no one else; apart from me there is no God. I will strap your belt on you, though you did not know me,
6 so that from the sunrise to its setting people may know that there is none but me. I am the LORD, and there is no one else.
7 I form light and create darkness, I bring about peace and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
8 Drip down from above, you heavens, and let the clouds run with righteousness; let the earth open up so that salvation may bear fruit, and let it make righteousness sprout along with it. I, the LORD, have created it.
9 Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker, a shard among the shards of the ground! Will the clay ask the one shaping it, 'What are you making?' or will your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'?
10 Woe to the one who asks a father, 'What are you fathering?' or a woman, 'What are you in labor with?'"
11 This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel and the one who shaped him: "Ask me about the things to come concerning my children, and give me orders about the work of my hands!
12 It was I who made the earth and created mankind on it; my own hands stretched out the heavens, and I gave orders to all their host.
13 It was I who roused him in righteousness, and I will make all his roads smooth. He will rebuild my city and let my exiles go free, not for a price and not for a bribe," says the LORD of hosts.
14 This is what the LORD says: "The wealth of Egypt and the trade of Cush, and the Sabeans, tall men, will cross over to you and will be yours. They will walk behind you; they will cross over in chains and bow down to you. They will pray to you: 'God is with you alone, and there is no one else; there are no other gods.'"
15 Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
16 They are shamed, yes, humiliated, every one of them; the makers of idols walk away together in disgrace.
17 Israel is saved by the LORD with a salvation that lasts for ages; you will never be shamed or humiliated, for all ages to come.
18 For this is what the LORD says, who created the heavens (he is God!), who shaped the earth and made it (he set it firm; he did not create it to be a wasteland, he shaped it to be lived in): "I am the LORD, and there is no one else.
19 I did not speak in hiding, somewhere in a land of darkness; I did not tell the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me for nothing.' I, the LORD, speak what is righteous and declare what is upright.
20 Assemble and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! Those who carry around their wooden idols know nothing; they pray to a god that cannot save.
21 Speak up, present your case; yes, let them consult together. Who made this heard long ago, who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
22 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no one else.
23 I have sworn by myself; a word in righteousness has gone out from my mouth and will not come back: to me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 'Only in the LORD,' it will be said of me, 'are righteousness and strength.' To him people will come, and all who raged against him will be put to shame.
25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast."