1. This is what the Lord says to his chosen one,to Cyrus, whose right hand I holdin order to subdue nations before him,and disarm kings,to open doors before him,so gates remain unclosed:
2. “I will go before youand level mountains.Bronze doors I will shatterand iron bars I will hack through.
3. I will give you hidden treasures,riches stashed away in secret places,so you may recognize that I am the Lord,the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.
4. For the sake of my servant Jacob,Israel, my chosen one,I call you by nameand give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me.
5. I am the Lord, I have no peer,there is no God but me.I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.
6. I do this so people will recognize from east to westthat there is no God but me;I am the Lord, I have no peer.
7. I am the one who forms lightand creates darkness; the one who brings about peaceand creates calamity.I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.
8. O sky, rain down from above!Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance!Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow,and deliverance may sprout up along with it.I, the Lord, create it.