Isaiah 45:1-13 - Cyrus, God's Instrument

¹ This is what the LORD says to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, as I strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him and gates that cannot keep closed: ² "I myself will go before you, and he will make the mountains level; I'll shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars. ³ I'll give you concealed treasures and riches hidden in secret places, so that you'll know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. ⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen, I've called you, and he has established you with a name, although you have not acknowledged me. ⁵ I am the LORD, and there is no other besides me: and there are no gods. I'm strengthening you, although you have not acknowledged me, ⁶ so that from the sun's rising to the west people may know that there is none besides me. "I am the LORD, and there is no other." ⁷ "I form light and create darkness, I make goodness and create disaster. I am the LORD, who does all these things.

⁸ "Shout, you skies above, and you clouds, and let righteousness stream down. I am the one who says to the earth, "Let salvation blossom, and let righteousness sprout forth.'

⁹ "Woe to the one who quarrels with his makers, a mere potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Woe to the one who says to the one forming him, "What are you making?' or "Your work has no human hands?'! ¹⁰ Woe to the one who says to his father, "What are you begetting?' or to a woman, "To what are you giving birth?'!" ¹¹ This is what the Lord says, the Creator of the signs: "Question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands. ¹² I myself made the earth and personally created humankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the skies; I marshaled all their starry hosts." ¹³ "I have aroused him in righteousness, and I'll make all his pathways smooth. It is he who will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price nor reward, " says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.