45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,(A)
    to Cyrus,(B) whose right hand I take hold(C) of
to subdue nations(D) before him
    and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
    so that gates will not be shut:
I will go before you(E)
    and will level(F) the mountains[a];
I will break down gates(G) of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.(H)
I will give you hidden treasures,(I)
    riches stored in secret places,(J)
so that you may know(K) that I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who summons you by name.(L)
For the sake of Jacob my servant,(M)
    of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
    and bestow on you a title of honor,
    though you do not acknowledge(N) me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;(O)
    apart from me there is no God.(P)
I will strengthen you,(Q)
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting(R)
people may know(S) there is none besides me.(T)
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,(U)
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;(V)
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:2 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.

Cyrus: God’s Deliverer

45 This is what the Lord says to his anointed, Cyrus,
    whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him,
    as I strip kings of their armor,[a]
to open doors[b] before him
    and gates that cannot keep closed:

“I myself will go before you,
    and he[c] will make the mountains[d] level;
I’ll shatter bronze doors
    and cut through iron bars.
I’ll give you concealed treasures[e]
    and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you’ll know that it is I, the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
    Israel[f] my chosen,
I’ve called you,
    and he has established you with a name,[g]
        although you have not acknowledged me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other besides me:
    and there are no gods.[h]
I’m strengthening you,
    although you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the sun’s rising[i] to the west
    people may know that there is none besides me.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

God is Sovereign

“I form light and create darkness,
I make goodness[j] and create disaster.
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:1 Lit. I expose the loins of kings
  2. Isaiah 45:1 So 1QIsaa (pl.); MT (dual)
  3. Isaiah 45:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read I
  4. Isaiah 45:2 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; MT reads hills
  5. Isaiah 45:3 Lit. treasures of darkness
  6. Isaiah 45:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read and Israel
  7. Isaiah 45:4 So 1QIsaa; MT reads I have called you by your name, given you a title; LXX reads I will call you by your name, and receive you
  8. Isaiah 45:5 So 1QIsaa; MT 1QIsab read there is no other: besides me there are no gods
  9. Isaiah 45:6 I.e. the east
  10. Isaiah 45:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads well-being; LXX reads peace