God Calls Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)
1 UEB This is what Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold, in order to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, and to open the doors before him, so that gates remain open: 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 UEB "I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut in pieces their iron bars, 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 UEB and I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden away, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, I, the God of Israel. 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 UEB For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name, giving you a title of honor, though 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 UEB that people may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no god but me: I am Yahweh, 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 UEB I form the light and create darkness; I bring peace and create disaster; I am Yahweh, who does 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 UEB You heavens, rain down from above! Let the skies rain down righteousness. Let the earth absorb it, that salvation may sprout up, and righteousness spring up together with it. I, Yahweh, have created them both. 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 UEB Woe to anyone who argues with the one who formed him, to him who is like any other earthen pot among all the earthen pots in the ground! Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles on it'? 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 UEB Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you fathering?' or to a woman, 'What are you giving birth to?' BSB BSB: Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’”
11 UEB This is what Yahweh says, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker: 'Why do you ask questions about what I will do for my children? Do you tell me what to do 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 UEB 'I made the earth and created man on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all the stars to appear. 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 UEB I stirred Cyrus up in righteousness, and I will smooth out all his paths. He will build my city; he will let my exiled people go home, and not for price nor bribe,'" says Yahweh 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 UEB This is what Yahweh says, "The earnings of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush with the Sabeans, men of tall stature, will be brought to you. They will be yours. They will follow after you, coming in chains. They will bow down to you and plead with you saying, 'Surely God is with you, and there is no other except him.'" 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 UEB They will all be ashamed and disgraced together; those who carve idols will walk in humiliation. BSB BSB: They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
17 UEB But Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated. 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 UEB I have not spoken in private, in some hidden place; I did not say to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain!' I am Yahweh, who speaks sincerely; I declare the things that are 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 UEB Assemble yourselves and come! Gather together, you refugees from among the nations! They have no knowledge, those who carry carved images and pray to gods that cannot 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 UEB Come close and declare it to me, bring the evidence! Let them conspire together. Who has shown this from long ago? Who announced it? Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no God except me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides 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 UEB By myself I swear, speaking my just decree, and it will not turn back: 'To me every knee will bend, every tongue will swear. 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 UEB They will say of me, "In Yahweh alone are salvation and strength."'" They will all be ashamed who are angry at him. 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 UEB In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will be justified; they will take pride in him. 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.