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

¹ Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the armor of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; ² I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: ³ And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. ⁴ For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my elect, I have even called you by your name: I have named you, though you have not known me. ⁵ I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God besides me: I girded you, though you have not known me: ⁶ That they 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 none else. ⁷ I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create calamity: I the LORD do all these things.

⁸ Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

⁹ Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What do you make? or of your work, He has no hands? ¹⁰ Woe unto him that says unto his father, What do you beget? or to the woman, What have you brought forth? ¹¹ Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, you command me. ¹² I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. ¹³ I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall set free my exiles, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts.