Isaiah 45:1-14

The Lord says this to Cyrus, his anointed,  whose right hand I have grasped  to subdue nations before him and disarm   kings,  to open doors before him, and even city gates will not be shut: “I will go before you and level the uneven places;  , I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.  I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places,  so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.  I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob  and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;  there is no God but me.  I will strengthen  you, though you do not know me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness,  I make success and create disaster;  I am the Lord, who does all these things. “Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness.  Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it.  I, the Lord, have created it. “Woe to the one who argues with his Maker — one clay pot among many.  Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making? ’  Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?  Woe to the one who says to his father, ‘What are you fathering? ’ or to his mother,  ‘What are you giving birth to? ’ ” This is what the  Lord, the Holy One of Israel  and its Maker, says: “Ask me what is to happen to   my sons,  and instruct me about the work of my hands.  I made the earth, and created humans on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens,  and I commanded everything in them. I have stirred him up in righteousness,  and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild my city,  and set my exiles free,  not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord of Armies. This is what the Lord says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans, men of stature,  will come over to you  and will be yours; they will follow you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess  to you, ‘God is indeed with you,  and there is no other; there is no other God.’ ”