1. The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one:I have taken holdof your right handto help you capture nationsand remove kings from power.City gates will open for you;not one will stay closed.
2. As I lead you,I will level mountainsand break the iron barson bronze gates of cities.
3. I will give you treasureshidden in darkand secret places.Then you will know that I,the Lord God of Israel,have called you by name.
4. Cyrus, you don't even know me!But I have called you by nameand highly honoured youbecause of Israel,my chosen servant.
5. Only I am the Lord!There are no other gods.I have made you strong,though you don't know me.
6. Now everyone from east to westwill learn that I am the Lord.No other gods are real.
7. I create light and darkness,happiness and sorrow.I, the Lord, do all of this.
8. Tell the heavensto send down justicelike showers of rain.Prepare the earthfor my saving powerto sprout and produce justicethat I, the Lord, create.
9. Israel, you have no rightto argue with your Creator.You are merely a clay potshaped by a potter.The clay doesn't ask,“Why did you make me this way?Where are the handles?”
10. Children don't have the rightto demand of their parents,“What have you doneto make us what we are?”
11. I am the Lord, the Creator,the holy God of Israel.Do you dare question meabout my own nationor about what I have done?