Isaiah 45

Chapter 45

Cyrus, the LORD’s Chosen One

1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one,
whose right hand he will empower.
Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear.
Their fortress gates will be opened,
never to shut again.2 This is what the LORD says:
“I will go before you, Cyrus,
and level the mountains.t
I will smash down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.4 “And why have I called you for this work?
Why did I call you by name when you did not know me?
It is for the sake of Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.5 I am the LORD;
there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
though you don’t even know me,6 so all the world from east to west
will know there is no other God.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.7 I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.8 “Open up, O heavens,
and pour out your righteousness.
Let the earth open wide
so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.
I, the LORD, created them.9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
‘Why did you make me this way?’”11 This is what the LORD says—
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
“Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,
and I will guide his actions.
He will restore my city and free my captive people—
without seeking a reward!
I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Future Conversion of Gentiles

14 This is what the LORD says:
“You will rule the Egyptians,
the Ethiopians,t and the Sabeans.
They will come to you with all their merchandise,
and it will all be yours.
They will follow you as prisoners in chains.
They will fall to their knees in front of you and say,
‘God is with you, and he is the only God.
There is no other.’”15 Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in mysterious ways.16 All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated.
They will all be disgraced together.17 But the LORD will save the people of Israel
with eternal salvation.
Throughout everlasting ages,
they will never again be humiliated and disgraced.18 For the LORD is God,
and he created the heavens and earth
and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the LORD,” he says,
“and there is no other.19 I publicly proclaim bold promises.
I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israelt to seek me
if I could not be found.
I, the LORD, speak only what is true
and declare only what is right.20 “Gather together and come,
you fugitives from surrounding nations.
What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols
and pray to gods that cannot save!21 Consult together, argue your case.
Get together and decide what to say.
Who made these things known so long ago?
What idol ever told you they would happen?
Was it not I, the LORD?
For there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.22 Let all the world look to me for salvation!
For I am God; there is no other.23 I have sworn by my own name;
I have spoken the truth,
and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will confess allegiance to me.t”24 The people will declare,
“The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”
And all who were angry with him
will come to him and be ashamed.25 In the LORD all the generations of Israel will be justified,
and in him they will boast.

ISAIAH 45

Cyrus Obeys //the [Lord]'s Commands

1 The [Lord] said to Cyrus, his chosen one:
I have taken hold
of your right hand
to help you capture nations
and remove kings from power.
City gates will open for you;
not one will stay closed.

2 As I lead you,
I will level mountainst
and break the iron bars
on bronze gates of cities.

3 I will give you treasures
hidden in dark
and secret places.
Then you will know that I,
the [Lord] God of Israel,
have called you by name.

4 Cyrus, you don't even know me!
But I have called you by name
and highly honored yout
because of Israel,
my chosen servant.

5 Only I am the [Lord]!
There are no other gods.
I have made you strong,
though you don't know me.

6 Now everyone from east to west
will learn that I am the [Lord].
No other gods are real.

7 I create light and darkness,
happiness and sorrow.
I, the [Lord], do all this.

8 Tell the heavens
to send down justice
like showers of rain.
Prepare the earth
for my saving power
to sprout and produce justice
that I, the [Lord], create.t

The [Lord]'s Mighty Power

The [Lord] said:

9  t Israel, you have no right
to argue with your Creator.
You are merely a clay pot
shaped by a potter.
The clay doesn't ask,
“Why did you make me this way?
Where are the handles?”

10 Children don't have the right
to demand of their parents,
“What have you done
to make us what we are?”

11 I am the [Lord], the Creator,
the holy God of Israel.
Do you dare question me
about my own nation
or about what I have done?

12 I created the world
and covered it with people;
I stretched out the sky
and filled it with stars.

13 I have done the right thing
by placing Cyrus in power,
and I will make the roads easy
for him to follow.
I am the [Lord] All-Powerful!
Cyrus will rebuild my city
and set my people free
without being paid a thing.
I, the [Lord], have spoken.

The [Lord] Alone Can Save

14 My people, I, the [Lord], promise
that the riches of Egypt
and the treasures of Ethiopiat
will belong to you.
You will force into slavery
those tall people of Seba.t
They will bow down and say,
“The only true God is with you;
there are no other gods.”

15 People of Israel,
your God is a mystery,
though he alone can save.

16 Anyone who makes idols
will be confused
and terribly disgraced.

17 But Israel, I, the [Lord],
will always keep you safe
and free from shame.

Everyone Is Invited

18 The [Lord] alone is God!
He created the heavens
and made a world
where people can live,
instead of creating
an empty desert.
The [Lord] alone is God;
there are no others.

19 The [Lord] did not speak
in a dark secret place
or command Jacob's descendants
to search for him in vain.
The [Lord] speaks the truth,
and this is what he says

20 to every survivor
from every nation:
“Gather around me!
Learn how senseless it is
to worship wooden idols
or pray to helpless gods.

21 “Why don't you get together
and meet me in court?
Didn't I tell you long ago
what would happen?
I am the only God!
There are no others.
I bring about justice,
and have the power to save.

22 “I invite the whole world
to turn to me and be saved.
I alone am God!
No others are real.

23  t I have made a solemn promise,
one that won't be broken:
Everyone will bow down
and worship me.

24 They will admit that I alone
can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
and will turn to me.

25 I, the [Lord], will give
victory and great honor
to the people of Israel.”