 1 Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have made strong in order to humble nations before him. I will loosen the grip+ of kings to open before him the two locked+ gates. The gates will not be shut. 2 I will go before you and make hills level. I will break in pieces the bronze gates and cut the iron bars in two. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by your name, the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, no God besides me; I clothed you, though you have not known me; 6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and to the sunset, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is none else; 7 forming the light and creating darkness. Making peace and creating evil. I the Lord do all these things. 8 Drop down from above, O heavens, and let the clouds pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, and let salvation bear fruit. Let righteousness spring up together. I the Lord have created it. 9 Woe to those who fight with the one who formed them. A broken pot among the broken pots of the earth. Shall the clay say to its maker, What are you making? Or your work, He has no hands? 10 Woe to one who says to his father, What are you fathering? Or to the woman, What have you brought forth? 11 Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, the one who formed him, Do you ask me about things to come? Do you give command to me about my sons and about the work of my hands? 12 I have made the earth and created man on it. With my hands, I have stretched out the heavens and I have commanded all their host. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness and I will direct all his ways. He will build my city and let my captives go, not for price nor reward, says the Lord of hosts. 14 Thus says the Lord, The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, will come to you, and they will be yours. They will come after you in chains. They will cross in chains and fall down to you. They will plead to you saying, Surely God is in you and no one else, no other god. 15 Truly you are God who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior. 16 They will be ashamed and confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go in disgrace together. 17 But Israel will be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. You will not be ashamed nor blush to the forevers of eternity. 18 For thus says the Lord, the Creator of the heavens, He is God, forming the earth and making it. He makes it stand, not creating it empty, but forming it to be inhabited. I am the Lord and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret or in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I the Lord speak righteousness. I declare things that are right. 20 Gather together, draw near, and come all you fugitives of nations that set up wooden idols and pray to a god that cannot save. They have no understanding+. 21 Declare and bring near. Let them take counsel together. Who has declared this of old? Who has told it from then? Is it not I, the Lord? There is no other God besides me. A just God and a Savior. There is none besides me. 22 Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by myself. The Word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and will not return so that every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall affirm+ allegiance. 24 Surely one will say, Only in the Lord do I have righteousness and strength. Only to Him will they come. Those who are against Him will be ashamed. 25 All the descendants of Israel will be justified and glory in the Lord.
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