Isaiah 45

Thus says the Lord God to Cyrus my anointed, whose right hand I took hold of, so that nations might obey before him; and I will break apart the strength of kings; I will open doors before him, and cities will not be shut.

I will go before you and level mountains; I will shatter bronze doors and break iron bars in pieces.

And I will give you dark treasures; I will open to you hidden, unseen things, so that you may know that I am the Lord God who calls your name — the God of Israel.

For the sake of Jacob my servant and Israel my chosen, I will call you by your name and will accept you; but you did not know me.

For I am the Lord God, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. And you did not know me,

so that those from the rising of the sun and those from the west may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord God, and there is no other.

I am the one who prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils. I am the Lord God who does all these things.

Let the sky above rejoice, and let the clouds sprinkle righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness together. I am the Lord who created you.

What better thing have I fashioned, like a potter's clay? Will the plowman plow the earth all day long? Will the clay say to the potter: What are you making? For you do not work, nor do you have hands?

What of the one who says to a father: What will you beget? and to a mother: For what will you be in labor?

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, who made the things that are coming: Ask me about my sons and about my daughters, and command me concerning the works of my hands.

I made the earth and man upon it; I with my hand made the sky firm; I gave command to all the stars.

I raised him up as king with righteousness, and all his ways are straight. He will build my city and will bring back the captivity of my people, not for ransom nor for gifts, said the Lord of hosts.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Egypt has labored, and the merchandise of the Ethiopians, and the Sebuin, men of tall stature, will cross over to you and will be your slaves; and they will follow behind you bound in handcuffs, and they will bow down to you and will pray in you, because God is in you; and they will say: There is no god besides you.

For you are God, and we did not know it — the God of Israel, Savior.

All who oppose him will be ashamed and disgraced, and they will walk in shame. Be renewed toward me, O islands.

Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; they will not be ashamed nor disgraced forever.

Thus says the Lord who made the sky — this is the God who displayed the earth and made it; he himself marked it out; he did not make it in vain, but to be inhabited — I am he, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in secret, nor in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob: Seek me in vain. I am, I am the Lord, who speaks righteousness and declares truth.

Gather together and come; take counsel together, you who are being saved from among the nations. They had no knowledge — those who carry their wooden carved image and pray to things as gods that do not save.

If they will declare, let them draw near, that they may know together: who made these things heard from the beginning? Then it was declared to you. I am God, and there is no other besides me; apart from me there is no righteous one and saviour.

Turn to me and you shall be saved, you who are from the end of the earth. I am God, and there is no other.

By myself I swear: truly righteousness shall go forth from my mouth, my words shall not be turned back; for to me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God.

saying: Righteousness and glory shall come to him; and all who separate themselves shall be put to shame.

From the Lord they shall be justified, and in God all the seed of the sons of Israel shall be glorified.