23. Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things!Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts!Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God.Sing, too, you trees in the forest!The Lord saved the people of Jacob!He showed his glory when he saved Israel.
24. This is what the Lord says, who saved you,who formed you in your mother’s body:“I, the Lord, made everything,stretching out the skies by myselfand spreading out the earth all alone.
25. I show that the signs of the lying prophets are false;I make fools of those who do magic.I confuse even the wise;they think they know much, but I make them look foolish.
26. I make the messages of my servants come true;I make the advice of my messengers come true.I say to Jerusalem,‘People will live in you again!’I say to the towns of Judah,‘You will be built again!’I say to Jerusalem’s ruins,‘I will repair you.’
27. I tell the deep waters, ‘Become dry!I will make your streams become dry!’
28. I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherdand will do all that I want him to do.He will say to Jerusalem, “You will be built again!”He will tell the Temple, “Your foundations will be rebuilt.” ’ ”