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.”
14. The Lord says,“The things made in Egypt and Cushand the tall people of Sebawill come to you.They will become yours.The Sabeans will walk behind you.They will come along in chains.They will bow down before you.They will pray to you, saying,‘God is with you.And there is no other God.’”
15. You are a God that people cannot see.You are the God and Savior of Israel.
16. All the people who make idols will be put to great shame.They will go off together in disgrace.
17. But Israel will be saved by the Lord.That salvation will continue forever.Never again will Israel be put to shame.
18. The Lord created the heavens.He is the Godwho formed the earth.He made the earth.But he did not want it to be empty.He wanted life to be on the earth.This is what the Lord says:“I am the Lord. There is no other God.