45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen 1 one,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold 2
in order to subdue nations before him,
and disarm kings, 3
to open doors before him,
so gates remain unclosed:
45:2 “I will go before you
and level mountains. 4
Bronze doors I will shatter
and iron bars 5 I will hack through.
45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, 6
riches stashed away in secret places,
so you may recognize that I am the Lord,
the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.
45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
Israel, my chosen one,
I call you by name
and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize 7 me.
45:5 I am the Lord, I have no peer, 8
there is no God but me.
I arm you for battle, 9 even though you do not recognize 10 me.
45:6 I do this 11 so people 12 will recognize from east to west
that there is no God but me;
I am the Lord, I have no peer.
45:7 I am 13 the one who forms light
and creates darkness; 14
the one who brings about peace
and creates calamity. 15
I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.
45:8 O sky, rain down from above!
Let the clouds send down showers 16 of deliverance!
Let the earth absorb it 17 so salvation may grow, 18
and deliverance may sprout up 19 along with it.
I, the Lord, create it. 20