Isaiah 45:5-17

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁸ Shower, O heavens, from above,
    and let the skies rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,^[a]
    and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;
    I the Lord have created it.^(D)

⁹ Woe to those who strive with their Maker,
    earthen vessels with the potter!^[b]
Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”?
    or “Your work has no handles”?^(E)
10 Woe to anyone who says to a father, “What are you fathering?”
    or to a woman, “With what are you in labor?”
¹¹ Thus says the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel and its Maker:
Will you question me^[c] about my children
    or command me concerning the work of my hands?^(F)
12 I made the earth
    and created humankind upon it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
    and I commanded all their host.^(G)
13 I have aroused Cyrus^[d] in righteousness,
    and I will make all his paths straight;
he shall build my city
    and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,
    says the Lord of hosts.^(H)
14 Thus says the Lord:
The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush
    and the Sabeans, tall of stature,
shall come over to you and be yours;
    they shall follow you;
    they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.
They will make supplication to you, saying,
    “God is with you alone, and there is no other;
    there is no god besides him.”^(I)
15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself,
    O God of Israel, the Savior.^(J)
16 All of them are put to shame and confounded;
    the makers of idols go in disgrace together.^(K)
17 But Israel is saved by the Lord
    with everlasting salvation;
you shall not be put to shame or confounded
    ever again.^(L)