1. Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped,to subdue nations before himand to loose the belts of kings,to open doors before himthat gates may not be closed:
2. “I will go before youand level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronzeand cut through the bars of iron,
3. I will give you the treasures of darknessand the hoards in secret places,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, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.
5. I am the Lord, and there is no other,besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,
6. that people may know, from the rising of the sunand from the west, that there is none besides me;I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7. I form light and create darkness,I make well-being and create calamity,I am the Lord, who does all these things.
8. “Shower, O heavens, from above,and let the clouds rain down righteousness;let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;let the earth cause them both to sprout;I the Lord have created it.
9. “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’or ‘Your work has no handles’?
10. Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”
11. Thus says the Lord,the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come;will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
12. I made the earthand created man on it;it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,and I commanded all their host.
13. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free,not for price or reward,”says the Lord of hosts.
14. Thus says the Lord: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,and the Sabeans, men of stature,shall come over to you and be yours;they shall follow you;they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.They will plead with you, saying:‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,no god besides him.’”
15. Truly, you are a God who hides himself,O God of Israel, the Savior.
16. All of them are put to shame and confounded;the makers of idols go in confusion together.
17. But Israel is saved by the Lordwith everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confoundedto all eternity.