Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any.
This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.
I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash round him. I will hand your authority over to him, and he will be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
For this time I am about to send all my plagues against you, your officials, and your people. Then you will know there is no one like me on the whole earth.
‘You are my witnesses’ – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.
The Lord says this to Cyrus, his anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and disarm kings, to open doors before him, and even city gates will not be shut:
‘So now hear this, lover of luxury, who sits securely, who says to herself, “I am, and there is no one else. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.”
I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him as a mortally wounded man.