¹¹ “This is what the Lord says—
    the Holy One^(A) of Israel, and its Maker:^(B)
Concerning things to come,
    do you question me about my children,
    or give me orders about the work of my hands?^(C)
12 It is I who made the earth^(D)
    and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;^(E)
    I marshaled their starry hosts.^(F)
13 I will raise up Cyrus^[a](G) in my righteousness:
    I will make all his ways straight.^(H)
He will rebuild my city^(I)
    and set my exiles free,
but not for a price or reward,^(J)
    says the Lord Almighty.”

¹⁸ For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
    he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,^(A)
    he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,^(B)
    but formed it to be inhabited^(C)—
he says:
“I am the Lord,
    and there is no other.^(D)
19 I have not spoken in secret,^(E)
    from somewhere in a land of darkness;^(F)
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,^(G)
    ‘Seek^(H) me in vain.’
I, the Lord, speak the truth;
    I declare what is right.^(I)