1. The Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus,whom I have grasped by the strong hand,to conquer nations before him,disarming kings,and opening doors before him,so no gates will be shut:
2. I myself will go before you,and I will level mountains.I will shatter bronze doors;I will cut through iron bars.
3. I will give you hidden treasures of secret riches,so you will know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
4. For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen,I called you by name.I gave you an honored title,though you didn’t know me.
5. I am the Lord, and there is no other;besides me there is no God.I strengthen you—though you don’t know me—
6. so all will know, from the rising of the sun to its setting,that there is nothing apart from me.I am the Lord; there’s no other.
7. I form light and create darkness,make prosperity and create doom;I am the Lord, who does all these things.
8. Pour down, you heavens above,and let the clouds flow with righteousness.Let the earth open for salvation to bear fruit;let righteousness sprout as well.I, the Lord, have created these things.
9. Doom to the one who argues with the potter,as if he were just another clay pot!Does the clay say to the potter, "What are you making?"or "Your work has no handles"?
10. Doom to one who says to a father,"What have you fathered?"and to a woman,"With what are you in labor?"
11. The Lord, the holy one of Israel and its maker, says:Are you questioning me about my own children?Are you telling me what to do with the work of my hands?
12. I myself made the earth,and created humans upon it.My own hands stretched out the heavens.I commanded all their forces.