Study Desk

The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed,^(a) whose right hand I have grasped^(b) to subdue nations before him, to disarm^[a] kings,^(c) to open the doors before him and the gates will not be shut:

"I will go before you and level the uneven places;^[b](d) I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.^(e)

I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places,^(f) so that you may know that I, Yahweh, the God of Israel call you by your name.^(g)

I call you by your name, because of Jacob My servant^(h) and Israel My chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know Me.

I am Yahweh, and there is no other;⁽ⁱ⁾ there is no God but Me.^(j) I will strengthen^[c] you, though you do not know Me,

so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but Me.^(k) I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I form light and create darkness,^(l) I make success and create disaster;^(m) I, Yahweh, do all these things.

"Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness.⁽ⁿ⁾ Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it.^(o) I, Yahweh, have created it.

"Woe to the one who argues with his Maker— one clay pot among many.^[d] Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making?'^(p) Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands'?^[e]

How absurd is the one who says to his father, ‘What are you fathering?' or to his mother, ‘What are you giving birth to?'"

This is what the Lord , the Holy One of Israel^(q) and its Maker, says: "Ask Me what is to happen to^[f] My sons,^(r) and instruct Me about the work of My hands.^(s)

I made the earth, and created man on it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,^(t) and I commanded all their host.

I have raised him up in righteousness,^(u) and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild My city,^(v) and set My exiles free,^(w) not for a price or a bribe," says the Lord of Hosts.

This is what the Lord says: The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans, men of stature,^(x) will come over to you^(y) and will be yours; they will follow you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess^[g] to you: God is indeed with you,^(z) and there is no other; there is no other God.

Yes, You are a God who hides Himself,^(aa) God of Israel, Savior.^(ab)

All of them are put to shame, even humiliated;^(ac) the makers of idols go in humiliation together.

Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated for all eternity.^(ad)

For this is what the Lord says— God is the Creator of the heavens. He formed the earth and made it. He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited^(ae)— "I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in secret,^(af) somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek Me in a wasteland.^(ag) I, Yahweh, speak truthfully;^(ah) I say what is right.

"Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives of the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols, and pray to a god who cannot save,^(ai) have no knowledge.^(aj)

Speak up and present your case^[h](ak)— yes, let them take counsel together. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior;^(al) there is no one except Me.^(am)

Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

By Myself I have sworn;^(an) Truth has gone from My mouth,^(ao) a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow^(ap) to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

It will be said to Me: Righteousness and strength is only in the Lord ." All who are enraged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.^(aq)

All the descendants of Israel will be justified and find glory through the Lord .

Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.^(a) Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle. The images you carry are loaded, as a burden for the weary animal.

The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.^(b)

"Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.

I will be the same until your old age,^(c) and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.

"Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to? Who will you measure Me with, so that we should be like each other?^(d)

Those who pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales— they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god. Then they kneel and bow down to it.^(e)

They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;^(f) they set it in its place, and there it stands; it does not budge from its place.^(g) They cry out to it but it doesn't answer; it saves no one from his trouble.

"Remember this and be brave;^[a] take it to heart, you transgressors!

Remember what happened long ago,^(h) for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me.

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.⁽ⁱ⁾

I call a bird of prey^[b] from the east,^(j) a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.^(k) I have planned it; I will also do it.

Listen to me, you hardhearted, far removed from justice:

I am bringing My justice near;^(l) it is not far away, and My salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, My splendor in Israel.