Isaiah 45:1-13 - Cyrus, God's Instrument
1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subjugate nations before him, and I uncover [the] loins of kings to open doors before him, and [the] gates shall not be shut: 2 "I myself will go before you, and I will level [the] {mountains}. I will break [the] doors of bronze and cut through[the] bars of iron. 3 And I will give you [the] treasures of darkness and treasures of secret places so that you may know that I [am] Yahweh, the one who calls [you] by your name, the God of Israel, 4 for the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen one. And I call you by your name; I give you a name of honor, though you do not know me. 5 I [am] Yahweh, and there is none besides [me]; besides me there is no god. I gird you though you do not know me, 6 so that they may know from [the] rising of [the] sun and from [the] west that [there is] none besides me; I [am] Yahweh and there is none besides [me]. 7 form light and create darkness; make peace and create evil; I [am] Yahweh; do all these [things].
8 Trickle, O heavens, from above, and let clouds trickle [with] righteousness; let [the] earth open so that salvation may be fruitful, and let it cause righteousness to sprout along with it. I myself, Yahweh, have created it.
9 Woe [to the] one who strives with his {maker}, a potsherd among potsherds of earth! Does [the] clay say to the one who fashions it, 'What are you making?' and 'Your work has no hands'? 10 Woe [to the] one who says to a father, 'What you are begetting?' or to a woman, '[With] what are you in labor?'" 11 Thus says Yahweh, the holy one of Israel, and its {maker}: "Ask me of the things to come {about} my children, and you command me about the work of my hands. 12 I myself made [the] earth, and I created humankind upon it. I, my hands, stretched out [the] heavens, and I commanded all their host. 13 I myself have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his paths smooth. He himself shall build my city, and he shall set my exiles free, not for price or a gift," says Yahweh of hosts.