1. This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his appointed king:“I hold your right hand.I will help you defeat nations.I will help you take other kings’ power away.I will open doors for youso city gates will not stop you.
2. I will go before you.And I will make the mountains flat.I will break down the bronze gates of the cities.I will cut through the iron bars on the gates.
3. I will give you the wealth that is stored away.And I will give you hidden riches.I will do this so you will know I am the Lord.I, the God of Israel, call you by name.
4. I do these things for my servants, the people of Jacob.I do these things for my chosen people, the Israelites.Cyrus, I call you by name.I give you a title of honor even though you don’t know me.
5. I am the Lord. There is no other God.I am the only God.I will make you strongeven though you don’t know me.
6. I do these things so everyone will knowthere is no other God.From the east to the west they will knowI alone am the Lord.
7. I made the light and the darkness.I bring peace, and I cause troubles.I, the Lord, do all these things.
8. “Sky above, make victory fall like rain.Clouds, pour down victory.May the earth receive it.May salvation grow.May victory grow with it.I, the Lord, have created it.
9. “How terrible it will be for those who argue with the God who made them.They are like one piece of broken pottery among many pieces.The clay does not ask the potter,‘What are you doing?’The thing that is made doesn’t say to its maker,‘You have no hands.’
10. How terrible it will be for the child who says to his father,‘Why are you giving me life?’How terrible it will be for the child who says to his mother,‘Why are you giving birth to me?’”
11. The Lord is the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker.He says this:“You ask me about what will happen.You question me about my children.You give me orders about what I have made.
12. I made the earth.And I made all the people living on it.With my own hands I stretched out the skies.I command all the armies in the sky.
13. I will bring Cyrus to do good things.And I will make his work easy.Cyrus will rebuild my city,and he will set my people free.Cyrus has not been paid to do these things.The Lord of heaven’s armies says this.”