Isaiah, 45

1. Thus says Yahweh to his anointed one, to Cyrus whom, he says, I have grasped by his right hand, to make the nations bow before him and to disarm kings, to open gateways before him so that their gates be closed no more:

1. Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:

2. I myself shall go before you, I shall level the heights, I shall shatter the bronze gateways, I shall smash the iron bars.

2. "I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron,

3. I shall give you secret treasures and hidden hoards of wealth, so that you will know that I am Yahweh, who call you by your name, the God of Israel.

3. I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

4. It is for the sake of my servant Jacob and of Israel my chosen one, that I have called you by your name, have given you a title though you do not know me.

4. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.

5. I am Yahweh, and there is no other, there is no other God except me. Though you do not know me, I have armed you

5. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me,

6. so that it may be known from east to west that there is no one except me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other,

6. that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

7. I form the light and I create the darkness, I make well-being, and I create disaster, I, Yahweh, do all these things.

7. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the LORD, who do all these things.

8. Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down saving justice, let the earth open up and blossom with salvation, and let justice sprout with it; I, Yahweh, have created it!

8. "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; I the LORD have created it.

9. Woe to anyone who argues with his Maker, one earthenware pot among many! Does the clay say to its potter, 'What are you doing? Your work has no hands!'

9. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter! Does the clay say to him who fashions it, `What are you making'? or `Your work has no handles'?

10. Woe to anyone who asks a father, 'Why are you begetting?' and a woman, 'Why are you giving birth?'

10. Woe to him who says to a father, `What are you begetting?' or to a woman, `With what are you in travail?'"

11. Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker: I am asked for signs regarding my sons, I am given orders about the work I do.

11. Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?

12. It was I who made the earth and I created human beings on it, mine were the hands that spread out the heavens and I have given the orders to all their array.

12. I made the earth, and created man upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

13. I myself have raised him in saving justice and I shall make all paths level for him. He will rebuild my city and bring my exiles home without ransom or indemnity, says Yahweh Sabaoth.

13. I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward," says the LORD of hosts.

14. Thus says Yahweh: The produce of Egypt, the commerce of Cush and the men of Seba, tall of stature, will come over to you and belong to you. They will follow you, walking in chains, they will bow before you, they will pray to you, 'With you alone is God, ad there is no other! The gods do not exist.'

14. Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabe'ans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: `God is with you only, and there is no other, no god besides him.'"

15. Truly, you are a God who conceals himself, God of Israel, Saviour!

15. Truly, thou art a God who hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

16. They are shamed and humbled, every one of them, humiliated they go, the makers of idols.

16. All of them are put to shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in confusion together.

17. Israel will be saved by Yahweh, saved everlastingly. You will never be ashamed or humiliated for ever and ever.

17. But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.

18. For thus says Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens -- he is God, who shaped the earth and made it, who set it firm; he did not create it to be chaos, he formed it to be lived in: I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

18. For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

19. I have not spoken in secret, in some dark corner of the underworld. I did not say, 'Offspring of Jacob, search for me in chaos!' I am Yahweh: I proclaim saving justice, I say what is true.

19. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, `Seek me in chaos.' I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.

20. Assemble, come, all of you gather round, survivors of the nations. They have no knowledge, those who parade their wooden idols and pray to a god that cannot save.

20. "Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.

21. Speak up, present your case, let them put their heads together! Who foretold this in the past, who revealed it long ago? Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no other god except me, no saving God, no Saviour except me!

21. Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.

22. Turn to me and you will be saved, all you ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other.

22. "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

23. By my own self I swear it; what comes from my mouth is saving justice, it is an irrevocable word: All shall bend the knee to me, by me every tongue shall swear,

23. By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: `To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.'

24. saying, 'In Yahweh alone are saving justice and strength,' until all those who used to rage at him come to him in shame.

24. "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed, all who were incensed against him.

25. In Yahweh the whole race of Israel finds justice and glory.

25. In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory."