(KJV) Isaiah 45¹

⥃God Calls Cyrus ^{[ 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 † Ezra 1:1–4 ]}

[1] Thus saith the Lord to his² anointed, to Cyrus, whose³ right hand I have holden⁴, to subdue⁵ nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open⁶ before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; [2] I will go before⁷ thee, and make⁸ the crooked places straight: I will break⁹ in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: [3] And I will give¹⁰ thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou¹¹ mayest know that I, the Lord, which call¹² [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel. [4] For Jacob¹³ my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even¹⁴ called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though¹⁵ thou hast not known me.

[5] I [am] the Lord¹⁶, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee¹⁷, though thou hast not known me: [6] That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the Lord, and [there is] none else.¹⁸ [7] I form¹⁹ the light, and create darkness²⁰: I make peace²¹, and create evil: I the Lord do all these [things]. [8] Drop down²², ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth²³ open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord²⁴ have created it. [9] Woe unto him²⁵ that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay²⁶ say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? [10] Woe unto him that saith unto [his] father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?²⁷ [11] Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One²⁸ of Israel, and his Maker, Ask²⁹ me of things to come concerning my sons³⁰, and concerning the work³¹ of my hands command³² ye me. [12] I have made the earth³³, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands³⁴, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host³⁵ have I commanded. [13] I have raised him³⁶ up in righteousness³⁷, and I will direct³⁸ all his ways: he shall build³⁹ my city, and he shall let go⁴⁰ my captives, not for price⁴¹ nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. [14] Thus saith the Lord, The labour⁴² of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans⁴³, men of stature⁴⁴, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains⁴⁵ they shall come over, and they shall fall⁴⁶ down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely⁴⁷ God [is] in thee; and [there⁴⁸ is] none else, [there is] no God. [15] Verily thou [art] a God⁴⁹ that hidest thyself, O God⁵⁰ of Israel, the Saviour. [16] They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together [that are] makers of idols.⁵¹ [17] [But] Israel⁵² shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting⁵³ salvation: ye shall not⁵⁴ be ashamed nor confounded world without end. [18] For thus saith the Lord that created⁵⁵ the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created⁵⁶ it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am⁵⁷] the Lord; and [there is] none else. [19] I have not spoken⁵⁸ in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek⁵⁹ ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness⁶⁰, I declare things that are right.

[20] Assemble yourselves⁶¹ and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped⁶² of the nations: they⁶³ have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save. [21] Tell ye⁶⁴, and bring⁶⁵ [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared⁶⁶ this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the Lord? and [there is⁶⁷] no God else beside me; a just⁶⁸ God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me. [22] Look⁶⁹ unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for⁷⁰ I [am] God, and [there is] none else. [23] I have sworn⁷¹ by myself, the word⁷² is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto⁷³ me every knee shall bow, every tongue⁷⁴ shall swear. [24] Surely⁷⁵, shall [one] say, in the⁷⁶ Lord have I righteousness⁷⁷ and strength⁷⁸: [even⁷⁹] to him shall [men] come; and all⁸⁰ that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. [25] In the Lord⁸¹ shall all the seed⁸² of Israel be justified, and shall glory⁸³.