Isaiah 45:1-13 - Cyrus, God's Instrument
1 Thus sayeth the LORD unto Cyrus his anointed, whom I have taken by the righthand, to subdue nations before him: I will loose the girdles of kings, that they shall open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their doors. 2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked straight. I shall break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars. 3 I shall give thee the hid treasure and the thing which is secretly kept, that thou mayest know, that I the God of Israel have called thee by thy name: 4 and that for Jacob my servant's sake, and for Israel my chosen. For I called thee by name, and ordained thee before thou knewest me. 5 Even I the LORD, before whom there is none other: for without me there is no God. I have prepared thee before thou knewest me: 6 that it might be known from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, that all is nothing without me. For I am the LORD, and there is else none. 7 It is I that created the light, and darkness. I make peace, and trouble: yea, even I the LORD do all these things.
8 The heavens above shall drop down, and the clouds shall rain righteousness. The earth shall open itself, and bring forth health, and thereby shall righteousness flourish. Even I the LORD shall bring it to pass.
9 Woe be unto him that chideth with his maker, the potsherd with the potter. Sayeth the clay to the potter, "What makest thou?" or "Thy work serveth for nothing?" 10 Woe be unto him that sayeth to his father, "Why begettest thou?" And to his mother, "Why bearest thou?" 11 Thus sayeth the LORD, even the holy one and maker of Israel: Ask me of things for to come, concerning my sons; and put me in remembrance, as touching the works of my hands. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it. With my hands have I spread forth heaven, and given a commandment for all the Host thereof. 13 I shall wake him up with righteousness, and order all his ways. He shall build my city, and let out my prisoners: and that neither for gifts or rewards, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.