God Calls Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)
1 CPDV Thus says the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, so that I may subjugate the nations before his face, and I may turn the backs of kings, and I may open the doors before him, and so that the gates will not be shut. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
2 CPDV I will go before you. And I will humble the glorious ones of the earth. I will shatter the gates of brass, and I will break apart the bars of iron. BSB BSB: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.
3 CPDV And I will give you hidden treasures and the knowledge of secret things, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls your name. BSB BSB: I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
4 CPDV For the sake of Jacob, my servant, and Israel, my elect, I have even called you by your name. I have taken you up, and you have not known me. BSB BSB: For the sake of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one, I call you by name; I have given you a title of honor, though you have not known Me.
6 CPDV So may those who are from the rising of the sun, and those who are from its setting, know that there is no one beside me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. BSB BSB: so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 CPDV I form the light and create the darkness. I make peace and create disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things. BSB BSB: I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.
8 CPDV Send down dew from above, O heavens, and let the clouds rain down upon the just! Let the earth open and spring forth a savior! And let justice rise up at once! I, the Lord, have created him. BSB BSB: Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
9 CPDV Woe to him who contradicts his Maker, a mere shard from an earthen vessel! Should the clay say to the potter, “What are you making?” or, “Your work is not made by your hands?” BSB BSB: Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
10 CPDV Woe to him who says to his father, “Why did you conceive?” or to a woman, “Why did you give birth?” BSB BSB: Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’”
11 CPDV Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker: Would you question me about the future, concerning my sons, and command me concerning the work of my hands? BSB BSB: Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?
12 CPDV I made the earth, and I created man upon it. My hand stretched out the heavens, and I have commanded all their hosts. BSB BSB: It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.
13 CPDV I have raised him up unto justice, and I will direct all his ways. He himself will build my city and release my captives, but not for ransom or gifts, says the Lord, the God of hosts. BSB BSB: I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”
14 CPDV Thus says the Lord: The labor of Egypt, and the business dealings of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature, will pass to you and will be yours. They will walk behind you. They will travel, bound in irons. And they will adore you and petition you: “In you alone is God, and there is no God apart from you. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind 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.’”
16 CPDV They have all been confounded and should be ashamed! These fabricators of errors have departed together into confusion! BSB BSB: They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
17 CPDV Israel is saved in the Lord by an eternal salvation. You will not be confounded, and you will not be ashamed, even forever and ever. BSB BSB: But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.
19 CPDV I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I have not said to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek me in vain.” I am the Lord, who speaks justice, who announces what is right. BSB BSB: I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.
20 CPDV Assemble yourselves, and approach, and draw near together, you who have been saved among the Gentiles. They lack knowledge, who lift up the wood of their sculpture, and who petition a god unable to save. BSB BSB: Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
21 CPDV Announce it, and approach, and consult together. Who has caused this to be heard from the beginning, and who has foretold it from that time? Is it not I, the Lord? And is there some other god beside me? I am a just God who saves, and there is no one except me. BSB BSB: Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
23 CPDV I have sworn by myself. The Word of justice will proceed from my mouth, and it will not turn back. For every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall swear it. BSB BSB: By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 CPDV Therefore, he will say, “In the Lord are my justices and my dominion.” They will go to him. And all who fight against him will be confounded. BSB BSB: Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
25 CPDV In the Lord, all the offspring of Israel will be justified and praised. BSB BSB: In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.