Isaiah 45

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, ^{a45:1 Lit. I expose the loins of kings} to open doors ^{b45:1 So 1QIsaa (pl.); MT (dual)} before him and gates that cannot keep closed:ISV — Isaiah 45:1

2 “I myself will go before you, and he ^{c45:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read I} will make the mountains ^{d45:2 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; MT reads hills} level; I’ll shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars.ISV — Isaiah 45:2

3 I’ll give you concealed treasures ^{e45:3 Lit. treasures of darkness} 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.ISV — Isaiah 45:3

4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel ^{f45:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read and Israel} my chosen, I’ve called you, and he has established you with a name, ^{g45:4 So 1QIsaa; MT reads I have called you by your name, given you a title; LXX reads I will call you by your name, and receive you} although you have not acknowledged me.ISV — Isaiah 45:4

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other besides me: and there are no gods. ^{h45:5 So 1QIsaa; MT 1QIsab read there is no other: besides me there are no gods} I’m strengthening you, although you have not acknowledged me,ISV — Isaiah 45:5

6 so that from the sun’s rising ^{i45:6 i.e. the east} to the west people may know that there is none besides me. “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”ISV — Isaiah 45:6

7 “I form light and create darkness, I make goodness ^{j45:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads well-being; LXX reads peace} and create disaster. I am the LORD, who does all these things.ISV — Isaiah 45:7

8 “Shout, ^{k45:8 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads Shower} you skies above, and you clouds, and let righteousness stream down. ^{l45:8 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read Shower, you skies above, and let the clouds stream down righteousness} I am ^{m45:8 1QIsaa MT LXX lack I am} the one who says to the earth, ‘Let salvation blossom, and let righteousness sprout forth.’ ^{n45:8 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 1QIsac MT read Let the earth open up, let them bear the fruit of salvation, and let righteousness sprout forth also. I the LORD have created it} ISV — Isaiah 45:8

9 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his makers, ^{o45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads maker} a mere potsherd with the potsherds of the ^{p45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks the} earth! Woe to the one who says ^{q45:9 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read Will clay say} to the one forming him, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no human ^{r45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack human} hands?’!ISV — Isaiah 45:9

10 Woe to the ^{s45:10 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks the} one who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘To what are you giving birth?’!”ISV — Isaiah 45:10

11 This is what the Lord ^{t45:11 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX 1QIsaa corrector reads the LORD, the Holy One of Israel} says, the Creator of the signs: “Question me about my children? ^{u45:11 So 1QIsaa LXX; Lit. my sons and daughters; MT reads says, and its creator: Question me of things to come about my children} Or give me orders about the work of my hands?ISV — Isaiah 45:11

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.”ISV — Isaiah 45:12

13 “I have aroused him ^{v45:13 i.e. Cyrus, king of Persia} 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.ISV — Isaiah 45:13

14 This is what the LORD says: “The wealth of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, those ^{w45:14 Lit. and those; so 1QIsaa; MT LXX read and the} Sabeans, men of great heights. ^{x45:14 So 1QIsaa; MT reads height} They’ll come over to you and will be yours; They’ll trudge behind you— coming over in chains, they’ll bow down to you. They’ll plead with you, ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no other God at all.’”ISV — Isaiah 45:14

15 “Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.ISV — Isaiah 45:15

16 All of them will be put to shame—indeed, disgraced! The makers of idols will go off in disgrace together.ISV — Isaiah 45:16

17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you won’t be put to shame or disgraced ever again.”ISV — Isaiah 45:17

18 For this is what the LORD says, who created the heavens— he is God, and ^{y45:18 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack and} the one who formed the earth and made it, and ^{z45:18 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks and} he is the one who established it; he didn’t create it for ^{aa45:18 Or it to remain in a state of; so 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks for} chaos, but formed it to be inhabited— “I am the LORD and there is no other.ISV — Isaiah 45:18

19 I didn’t speak in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I didn’t say to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in chaos.’ I, the LORD, speak truth, declaring what is right.ISV — Isaiah 45:19

20 “Gather together and come; draw near and enter, ^{bb45:20 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read together} your fugitives from the nations. Those who carry around their wooden idols know nothing, nor do those who keep praying to a god that cannot save.ISV — Isaiah 45:20

21 Explain and present a case! Yes, let them take counsel together. Who announced this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides me, a righteous God and Savior; and ^{cc45:21 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack and} there is none besides me.ISV — Isaiah 45:21

22 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.ISV — Isaiah 45:22

23 By myself I have sworn— from my mouth has gone out integrity, a promise ^{dd45:23 Lit. word} that won’t be revoked: ‘To me every knee will bow, and ^{ee45:23 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks and} every tongue will swear. ’ISV — Isaiah 45:23

24 One will say of me, ^{ff45:24 So 1QIsaa; MT reads one said of me; LXX reads saying} ‘Only in the LORD are victories and might.’ All who raged against him will come ^{gg45:24 So 1QIsaa MTmss LXX (pl.); MT (sing.)} to him and will be put to shame.ISV — Isaiah 45:24

25 In the LORD all the descendants of Israel will triumph and make their boast.”ISV — Isaiah 45:25