3. From the beginning I revealed to you what would happen.These words came out of my mouth,and I made them known.Suddenly, I acted, and they happened.
4. I know that you are stubborn.Like iron, you are hardheaded.Like bronze, nothing gets through your thick skull.
5. That is why I revealed to you what would happen long ago.I told you about them before they happened.⌊I did this⌋ so you couldn’t say,“My gods have done these things.My carved idols and my metal idolshave commanded them to happen.”
6. You’ve heard these words.Now look at all this.Won’t you admit it?From now on I will reveal to you new things,hidden things that you do not know.
7. They are created now, not in the past.You haven’t heard about them before today,so you can’t say that you already knew about them.
8. You have never heard about them.You have never known about them.Your ears have never been open to hear them before.I know that you’ve acted very treacherouslyand that you have been called a rebel since you were born.
9. For my name’s sake I’ll be patient.For my glory’s sake I’ll hold my anger back from you,rather than destroy you.
10. I have refined you,but not like silver.I have tested you in the furnace of suffering.
11. I am doing this for myself, only for myself.Why should my name be dishonored?I will not give my glory to anyone else.
12. Listen to me, Jacob,Israel, whom I have called.I am the one.I am the first and the last.
13. My hand laid the foundation of the earth.My right hand stretched out the heavens.When I call for them, they both stand.
14. Gather together, all of you, and listen.What idol has revealed such things?The Lord loves Cyrus.He will carry out the Lord’s plan against Babylon.He will use his strength against the Babylonians.