Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 45

1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

*So says the Lord to His chosen one, Cyrus, whom I have grasped in victory. He will conquer nations and I will unfasten the belts of kings to open wide the double doors for him. The doors will never close again.

2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

*I will lead the way, fixing rough paths for you. I'll shatter bronze gates and split iron bars apart.

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

*I will give you hidden treasures and secret wealth so you know I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

*For Jacob, because he's special, and chosen Israel, who's also special to me, I gave you your name: I added your name, even though you didn't know me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

*I am the only true God; there's no other. I've supported you even when you didn't recognize me.

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

*So everyone can see from sunrise to sunset that there's no other god but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

*I make light and darkness, bring peace and bad things: I am the Lord doing all these actions.

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

*Heaven and sky, send down justice. Earth, open up and bring forth salvation. Righteousness should grow together. I, the Lord, made this happen.

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

*Oh no, whoever opposes their Creator! Instead, let broken pottery pieces fight with other broken pottery pieces. Shouldn't the shaped clay ask the one shaping it, "What are you doing?" Or does the one being formed have no hands?

10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

*Woe to anyone who asks their father, "What gave you birth?" or a woman, "What have you given birth to?"

11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

*"So says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who made Him, Ask about future events regarding my children and the work I have done, and tell me what to do."

12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

*I created the Earth and people, and with my own hands, I expanded the sky and all its stars.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

*I have taught him to do what is right, and I will guide him. He will rebuild my city and free my people, not for money or rewards, says the Lord of heaven's armies.

14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

*So says the Lord: The work of Egypt, along with Ethiopia's and the Sabeans' goods will come to you. These strong people will belong to you. They will come to you in chains, bowing down to you, begging for help, saying, "Certainly, God is with you; there is no other, there is no other god."

15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

*Yes, you are a hidden God, O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

*They will feel embarrassed and confused; everyone involved in making idols will share this confusion.

17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

*But Israel will be rescued by the LORD with a lasting salvation: you won't be embarrassed or confused forever anywhere in the world.

18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

*This means: The Lord who made the sky says this - the same God who shaped the Earth has set it firmly in place. He didn't make it for no reason. Instead, he created it for people to live on. I am the one true Lord, and there is no other.

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

*I didn't talk in secret or in a hidden place on Earth. I didn't tell the children of Jacob to search for me in vain. As the Lord, I speak what is fair and just. I make things clear.

20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

*Come together, all who escaped from other nations. Don't worship the wooden idols made by others, as they have no power to save.

21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

*Listen and gather people; yes, let them discuss together. Who announced this long ago? Who shared it beforehand? Haven't I, the Lord? There is no other god but me; I am a fair God and a rescuer; there is no one else like me.

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

*Look to me for salvation, everyone from around the world, because I am God and there is no other.

23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

*I promise that my words are fair, and they won't change. Everyone will kneel to me, and everyone will promise with their words.

24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

*Of course, someone might say, I find justice and power in the LORD. People will look to him, while those who are angry with him will feel embarrassed.

25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

*All the descendants of Israel will be made right by the LORD and will have reason to boast.

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