Isaiah 45

God Calls Cyrus

1 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, His chosen one, the one He took by the right hand: “I am giving you nations to conquer and opening doors no one can shut. Kings will lose their power before you.”

2 “I will go ahead of you and make the crooked places straight. I will smash bronze gates and cut through iron bars.”

3 “I will give you treasures hidden in darkness and riches stored in secret places, so you will know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the One 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 your title even though you did not know Me.”

5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other. Besides Me there is no God. I made you strong even though you did not know who I was.”

6 “So everyone from east to west will know there is no God but Me. I am the Lord, there is no other.”

7 “I form light and create darkness. I make peace and bring calamity. I, the Lord, do all these things.”

8 “Open up, heavens, and pour down righteousness. Let the earth open so salvation and righteousness can grow together. I, the Lord, created it.”

9 Woe to the one arguing with their Maker, a clay pot arguing with the potter. Does the clay say, “What are you making?” Does it call the potter’s work useless,

10 Woe to the one who says to a father, “What do you think you are doing?” or to a mother, “Why did you give birth to this?”

God’s Sovereign Power

11 This is what the Lord says, the Holy One of Israel, the One who made you: “Are you all really questioning Me about My children, Are you commanding Me about the work of My hands?”

12 “I made the earth and created people on it. My hands stretched out the heavens, and I command all the stars.”

13 “I raised up Cyrus in righteousness. I will smooth out his path. He will rebuild My city and free My people, without bribes or payments,” says the Lord of Armies.

Nations Will Honor the Lord

14 This is what the Lord says: “The wealth of Egypt, Cush, and the tall people of Seba will come to you. They will walk behind you in chains, bow down to you, and say, ‘Surely God is with you, and there is no other God.’”

15 Truly You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 All who make idols will be ashamed and humiliated, every one of them.

17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation. You will not be ashamed or disgraced ever again.

The Lord, Creator of Heaven and Earth

18 This is what the Lord says, the One who created the heavens and formed the earth: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did not make the earth empty, I formed it to be lived in.”

19 “I did not speak in secret or hide in darkness. I did not tell Jacob’s people, ‘Seek Me for nothing.’ I, the Lord, speak what is right, I declare truth.”

No God but the Lord

20 “Gather up and come. All you survivors of the nations, come near. You all carry idols that cannot save and pray to gods who cannot do anything.”

21 “Tell Me and present your case. Who foretold this long ago, Was it not Me, the Lord, there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior. No one else.”

22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the nations of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other.”

23 “I swear by Myself, every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”

24 They will say, “Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.” All who hated Him will come to Him ashamed.

25 In the Lord all Israel’s descendants will be declared righteous and will boast in Him.