耶和华使塞鲁士兴起

45 “我耶和华膏立塞鲁士为王,
我牵着他的右手帮助他征服列国、降服列王;
我使城门洞开,
让他通行无阻。
我对他说,
‘我要走在你前面,
为你铲平高山,
打破铜门,
砍断铁闩。
我要把隐藏的宝物和秘密收藏的财富赐给你,
好叫你知道点名呼召你的是我——以色列的上帝耶和华。
虽然你不认识我,
但为了我的仆人雅各,
我所拣选的以色列,
我还是点名呼召你,
赐给你一个尊贵的名号。
我是独一无二的耶和华,
除我以外再没有上帝。
虽然你不认识我,
但我还是赐你力量。
这样,从日出之地到日落之处,
普天下都知道除我以外,
别无他神,
我耶和华独一无二。
我造光明,也造黑暗;
赐平安,也降灾祸。
这一切都是我耶和华的作为。

“‘我使诸天降下甘露,
云彩降下公义,
使大地裂开,
萌生拯救和公义,
这是我耶和华的作为。’

“跟造物主争辩的人有祸了!
他不过是世上瓦器中的一件。
陶泥怎能对陶匠说,‘你在做什么’?
受造之物怎能说,‘造我的没手艺’?
10 对父亲说‘你生的是什么’
或对母亲说‘你产的是什么’的人有祸了!”
11 耶和华——以色列的圣者和创造主说:
“你们就我子民将来的事质问我吗?
你们发号施令要告诉我如何做吗?
12 是我造了大地,又造了地上的人;
我亲手铺展穹苍,
布置天上的万象。
13 我凭公义使塞鲁士王兴起,
我要让他的道路畅通无阻。
他必重建我的城,
释放我被掳的子民,
不是为了得报酬或奖赏。
这是万军之耶和华说的。”

14 耶和华说:
“埃及的出产和古实的货物必归你所有。
身材高大的西巴人必来归附你,
戴着锁链跟在你身后。
他们要向你下拜,
在你面前恳求,
并说,‘上帝真的与你们同在,
祂独一无二,除祂以外,
别无他神。’”
15 救主——以色列的上帝啊,
你真是一位隐藏自己的上帝。
16 制造偶像的都必蒙羞受辱,
一同惭愧。
17 但以色列必蒙耶和华拯救,
享受永远的救恩,
永远不会再蒙羞受辱。

18 创造诸天、塑造和建立大地给人居住、没有使地荒凉的耶和华上帝说:
“我是耶和华,是独一无二的上帝。
19 我没有在隐秘处暗暗地说话,
我没有对雅各的后裔说,
‘你们找不到我。’
我耶和华宣扬真理,
传讲正义。

20 “列国的流亡者啊,
你们要聚集到这里来。
那些抬着木头神像、
向不能救人的神明祷告的人真愚昧!
21 你们要彼此商议,
陈明你们的理由。
谁早已预言过今天发生的事?
谁很久以前就说过这些预言?
难道不是我耶和华吗?
除我以外别无他神。
我是公义的上帝,我是救主,
除我以外别无他神。
22 普世的人啊,归向我吧,
你们必蒙拯救,
因为我是独一无二的上帝。
23 我凭自己起誓,
我口中的话真实可靠,绝不更改,
‘万膝必向我跪拜,
万口必起誓效忠于我。’
24 他们必说,
‘只有耶和华那里才有公义和能力。’”
向祂发怒的必在祂面前蒙羞。
25 以色列的后裔必被耶和华称为义人,得到荣耀。

45 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

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.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay 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?

11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.

14 Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God 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.

17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

24 Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Cyrus, God’s Instrument

45 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To (A)Cyrus, whose (B)right hand I have [a]held—
(C)To subdue nations before him
And (D)loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
‘I will go before you
(E)And[b] make the [c]crooked places straight;
(F)I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
(G)That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who (H)call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
For (I)Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
I (J)am the Lord, and (K)there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
(L)I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
(M)That they may (N)know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and (O)create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.

“Rain(P) down, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the Lord, have created it.

“Woe to him who strives with (Q)his Maker!
Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!
(R)Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?
10 Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’
Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ”

11 Thus says the Lord,
The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:
(S)“Ask Me of things to come concerning (T)My sons;
And concerning (U)the work of My hands, you command Me.
12 (V)I have made the earth,
And (W)created man on it.
I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,
And (X)all their host I have commanded.
13 (Y)I have raised him up in righteousness,
And I will [d]direct all his ways;
He shall (Z)build My city
And let My exiles go free,
(AA)Not for price nor reward,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

The Lord, the Only Savior

14 Thus says the Lord:

(AB)“The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush
And of the Sabeans, men of stature,
Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours;
They shall walk behind you,
They shall come over (AC)in chains;
And they shall bow down to you.
They will make supplication to you, saying, (AD)‘Surely God is in you,
And there is no other;
(AE)There is no other God.’ ”

15 Truly You are God, (AF)who hide Yourself,
O God of Israel, the Savior!
16 They shall be (AG)ashamed
And also disgraced, all of them;
They shall go in confusion together,
Who are makers of idols.
17 (AH)But Israel shall be saved by the Lord
With an (AI)everlasting salvation;
You shall not be ashamed or (AJ)disgraced
Forever and ever.

18 For thus says the Lord,
(AK)Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it [e]in vain,
Who formed it to be (AL)inhabited:
(AM)“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in (AN)secret,
In a dark place of the earth;
I did not say to the seed of Jacob,
‘Seek Me [f]in vain’;
(AO)I, the Lord, speak righteousness,
I declare things that are right.

20 “Assemble yourselves and come;
Draw near together,
You who have escaped from the nations.
(AP)They have no knowledge,
Who carry the wood of their carved image,
And pray to a god that cannot save.
21 Tell and bring forth your case;
Yes, let them take counsel together.
(AQ)Who has declared this from ancient time?
Who has told it from that time?
Have not I, the Lord?
(AR)And there is no other God besides Me,
A just God and a Savior;
There is none besides Me.

22 “Look to Me, and be saved,
(AS)All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 (AT)I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every (AU)knee shall bow,
(AV)Every tongue shall take an oath.
24 He shall say,
[g]‘Surely in the Lord I have (AW)righteousness and strength.
To Him men shall come,
And (AX)all shall be ashamed
Who are incensed against Him.
25 (AY)In the Lord all the descendants of Israel
Shall be justified, and (AZ)shall glory.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:1 strengthened or sustained
  2. Isaiah 45:2 Tg. I will trample down the walls; Vg. I will humble the great ones of the earth
  3. Isaiah 45:2 DSS, LXX mountains
  4. Isaiah 45:13 Or make all his ways straight
  5. Isaiah 45:18 Or empty, a waste
  6. Isaiah 45:19 Or in a waste place
  7. Isaiah 45:24 Or Only in the Lord are all righteousness and strength

Cyrus, God's Instrument

45 Thus says the Lord to (A)his anointed, to Cyrus,
    (B)whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
    and (C)to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
    that gates may not be closed:
“I will go before you
    and (D)level the exalted places,[a]
(E)I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
    and cut through the bars of iron,
(F)I will give you the treasures of darkness
    and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
    the God of Israel, (G)who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
    and Israel my chosen,
(H)I call you by your name,
    (I)I name you, though you do not know me.
(J)I am the Lord, and there is no other,
    besides me there is no God;
    (K)I equip you, though you do not know me,
(L)that people may know, from the rising of the sun
    and from the west, that there is none besides me;
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and (M)create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

(N)“Shower, O heavens, from above,
    and (O)let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
    let the earth cause them both to sprout;
    I the Lord have created it.

(P)“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
    a pot among earthen pots!
(Q)Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
    or ‘Your work has no handles’?
10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
    or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

11 Thus says (R)the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
(S)“Ask me of things to come;
    will you command me (T)concerning my children and (U)the work of my hands?[b]
12 (V)I made the earth
    and created man on it;
it was my hands (W)that stretched out the heavens,
    and (X)I commanded all their host.
13 (Y)I have stirred him up in righteousness,
    (Z)and I will make all his ways level;
(AA)he shall build my city
    (AB)and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
    says the Lord of hosts.

The Lord, the Only Savior

14 Thus says the Lord:
(AC)“The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,
    and the Sabeans, men of stature,
shall come over to you (AD)and be yours;
    they shall follow you;
    they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.
They will plead with you, saying:
    ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,
    no god besides him.’”

15 (AE)Truly, you are a God who hides himself,
    O God of Israel, the Savior.
16 (AF)All of them are put to shame and confounded;
    the makers of idols go in confusion together.
17 But Israel is saved by the Lord
    with everlasting salvation;
(AG)you shall not be put to shame or confounded
    to all eternity.

18 (AH)For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens
    (he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
    (he established it;
he (AI)did not create it empty,
    (AJ)he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 (AK)I did not speak in secret,
    in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
    (AL)‘Seek me in vain.’[c]
I the Lord speak (AM)the truth;
    I declare what is right.

20 (AN)“Assemble yourselves and come;
    draw near together,
    you survivors of the nations!
(AO)They have no knowledge
    who (AP)carry about their wooden idols,
(AQ)and keep on praying to a god
    that cannot save.
21 (AR)Declare and present your case;
    let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
    Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God (AS)and a Savior;
    there is none besides me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved,
    (AT)all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 (AU)By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in (AV)righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
(AW)‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’[d]

24 (AX)“Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
    are righteousness and (AY)strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
    (AZ)all who were incensed against him.
25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
    shall be justified and shall glory.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:2 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint level the mountains
  2. Isaiah 45:11 A slight emendation yields will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?
  3. Isaiah 45:19 Hebrew in emptiness
  4. Isaiah 45:23 Septuagint every tongue shall confess to God