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28 I say of Cyrus [C the Persian king (ruled 550–530 bc) who allowed Israel to return from exile; 41:2; 44:28—45:6; 46:11; 48:14–16], ‘He is my shepherd
    and will ·do [fulfill] all that I want him to do.
    He will say to Jerusalem, “You will be built again!”
He will tell the Temple, “Your foundations will be rebuilt.”’”

God Chooses Cyrus to Free Israel

45 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus [44:28], his ·appointed king [anointed one; messiah]:
    “I hold your right hand
and will help you ·defeat [subdue] nations
    and ·take away other kings’ power [or remove kings’ armor; L open the loins of kings].
I will open doors for you
    so city gates will not ·stop you [be shut].
I will go before you
    and ·make the mountains flat [level mountains; 40:4].
I will ·break down [shatter; smash] the bronze gates of the cities
    and cut through their iron bars.
I will give you the ·wealth that is stored away [L treasures of darkness]
    and the ·hidden riches [hoards in secret places]
so you will know I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
I do these things for ·my servants, the people of Jacob [L the sake of Jacob my servant],
    and for ·my chosen people, the Israelites [Israel, my chosen].
·Cyrus, I call [L I call] you by name,
    and I give you a title of honor even though you don’t know me.
I am the Lord. There is no other God;
    I am the only God.
I will ·make you strong [or arm you for battle; L gird you],
    even though you don’t know me,
so that everyone will know
    there is ·no other God [none besides me].
From the ·east [rising of the sun] to ·the west [its setting] they will know
    I alone am the Lord.

28 who says of Cyrus,(A) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(B) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(C) “Let its foundations(D) be laid.”’

45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,(E)
    to Cyrus,(F) whose right hand I take hold(G) of
to subdue nations(H) 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(I)
    and will level(J) the mountains[a];
I will break down gates(K) of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.(L)
I will give you hidden treasures,(M)
    riches stored in secret places,(N)
so that you may know(O) that I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who summons you by name.(P)
For the sake of Jacob my servant,(Q)
    of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
    and bestow on you a title of honor,
    though you do not acknowledge(R) me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;(S)
    apart from me there is no God.(T)
I will strengthen you,(U)
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting(V)
people may know(W) there is none besides me.(X)
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Footnotes

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