Isaiah 45:14-25

This is what YAHWEH says to Cyrus: “Egypt’s wealth, Cush’s treasures, and the tall Sabeans will all be handed over to you. In chains they will walk behind you. They will be brought before you and they will bow down and address you reverently, saying, ‘Truly God is with you. He alone is God, and there is no other.’ ” Truly, O God of Israel, the Savior, you are a God who hides himself. All the idol-makers will be ashamed and disgraced, and each one will walk away in confusion. But YAHWEH saves Israel with everlasting salvation! You will not be put to shame nor disgraced for all eternity! This is what YAHWEH says, heaven’s Creator, who alone is God. He created the earth, shaped it, and established it all by himself. He made it fit and orderly and beautiful for its inhabitants. He says: “I am YAHWEH, and there is no other god. I didn’t whisper in secret, in a realm of darkness. I didn’t say to Jacob’s tribes, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I am YAHWEH! I speak the truth and declare to you what is right! “Come together! Assemble yourselves! Draw near, you refugees from among the nations. Those who parade their powerless wooden idols have no revelation-knowledge. They keep on praying to gods who cannot save them. Declare what is to be and state your case. Go ahead and take counsel together. Who knew all about this and declared it long ago? Was it not I, YAHWEH? There is no god apart from me. I am a righteous God and a Savior. There is no one you can compare to me. So turn your heart to me, face me now, and be saved wherever you are, even from the ends of the earth, for I alone am God, and there is no other. I make this solemn oath to you in my own name; this word sent from my mouth in righteousness will not return unfulfilled: ‘Truly every knee will bow before me and every tongue will solemnly swear allegiance to me!’ All will say of me, ‘Yes! Only in YAHWEH do I find righteousness and strength!’ And all who were angry with me will come before me and regret it! In YAHWEH, all of Israel’s offspring will triumph and shine!”