Isaiah 45 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

This is what Yahweh says to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have gripped tight — to flatten nations before him, to strip the armor from kings, to swing open double doors before him so that no gate stays shut:

"I will go ahead of you and level the mountains. I will shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars.

I will hand you treasures hidden in darkness, riches stashed in secret places — so you will know that I am Yahweh, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel whom I have chosen, I called you by your name. I gave you a title of honor even though you did not know me.

I am Yahweh, and there is no other. Apart from me, there is no God. I will strengthen you even though you have not known me,

so that from the rising of the sun to where it sets, people will know there is nothing apart from me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I shape light and create darkness. I make well-being and create disaster. I, Yahweh, do all these things.

Rain down from above, you skies! Let the clouds pour out what is right. Let the earth open wide and let rescue spring up. Let what is right sprout alongside it. I, Yahweh, have created this.

Grief to anyone who argues with the one who shaped them — a piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces on the ground! Does the clay say to the potter, "What are you making?" Does your work say, "He has no hands"?

Grief to anyone who says to a father, "What have you fathered?" or to a mother, "What have you brought into the world?"

This is what Yahweh says, the One Like No Other in Israel, the one who shaped him: "Are you really going to question me about my children? Are you going to give me orders about the work of my hands?"

I made the earth and created humanity upon it. My own hands stretched out the skies, and I commanded all their stars into place.

I have stirred him up for what is right, and I will make all his paths straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiled people free — not for a price, not for a bribe," says Yahweh who commands armies.

This is what Yahweh says: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the tall Sabeans — they will all come over to you and be yours. They will walk behind you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you: 'Surely God is with you, and there is no other — no other god at all.'"

Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the rescuer.

They will all be put to shame, all of them humiliated — the makers of idols will walk away disgraced together.

But Israel is rescued by Yahweh with a rescue that lasts forever. You will never be put to shame or humiliated, not for all of time.

For this is what Yahweh says — he created the skies, he is God; he shaped the earth and made it, he established it; he did not create it to be empty — he shaped it to be lived in: "I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in secret, from some dark corner of the earth. I did not say to Jacob's descendants, 'Search for me in chaos.' I, Yahweh, speak what is right. I declare things that are straight.

Gather together and come! Draw near, you survivors of the nations. They know nothing — those who carry around their wooden idols and pray to a god that cannot rescue.

Speak up! Present your case! Let them even take counsel together. Who announced this long ago? Who declared it from ancient times? Wasn't it I, Yahweh? There is no other God apart from me — a just God and a rescuer. There is no one except me.

Turn to me and be rescued, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

I have sworn by myself — this word has gone out from my mouth in what is right, and it will not come back: Every knee will bow to me. Every tongue will swear loyalty to me.

"Only in Yahweh," they will say about me, "are what is right and strength." All who raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.

In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will find they are in the right, and they will shine.