Isaiah 45:1-8

1This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed:

2“I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through.

3I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.

4For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me.

5I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.

6I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.

7I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.

8O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow, and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.