10. Woe to the one who says to a father,“What have you begotten?”or to a mother,“What have you brought to birth?”
11. ‘This is what the Lord says –the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:concerning things to come,do you question me about my children,or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12. It is I who made the earthand created mankind on it.My own hands stretched out the heavens;I marshalled their starry hosts.
13. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:I will make all his ways straight.He will rebuild my cityand set my exiles free,but not for a price or reward,says the Lord Almighty.’
14. This is what the Lord says:‘The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,and those tall Sabeans –they will come over to youand will be yours;they will trudge behind you,coming over to you in chains.They will bow down before youand plead with you, saying,“Surely God is with you, and there is no other;there is no other god.” ’
15. Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself,the God and Saviour of Israel.
16. All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced;they will go off into disgrace together.
17. But Israel will be saved by the Lordwith an everlasting salvation;you will never be put to shame or disgraced,to ages everlasting.
18. For this is what the Lord says –he who created the heavens,he is God;he who fashioned and made the earth,he founded it;he did not create it to be empty,but formed it to be inhabited –he says:‘I am the Lord,and there is no other.
19. I have not spoken in secret,from somewhere in a land of darkness;I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,“Seek me in vain.”I, the Lord, speak the truth;I declare what is right.
20. ‘Gather together and come;assemble, you fugitives from the nations.Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood,who pray to gods that cannot save.