Isaiah 45 good news bible

Here is Isaiah 45 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Isaiah 45

God's Power and Wisdom

1 This is what the Lord says to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whom he has chosen, whom he will bring near to himself, to open the gates of the desert and to bring out the prisoners from the dark.

2 I will go before you, I will level the mountains, I will break down the gates of bronze, and I will cut through the bars of iron.

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

4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, for the sake of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by name, giving you a title of honor, though you have not known me.

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides me. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me,

6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

8 Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open wide, and let salvation spring forth, and let righteousness grow with it.

9 I, the Lord, have created it.

God's Plan for Israel

10 This is what the Lord says to his people, who have been scattered abroad: "Go, my people, and gather together, for you have been forgiven."

11 But my righteousness will be revealed, and my salvation will be seen, when the time comes to save you, and my arm will bring judgment to the nations.

12 You will seek those who quarrel with you, but you will not find them, those who war against you, for I am the one who has forgiven you.

13 For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, "Do not fear, I will help you."

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you people of Israel, I will help you, says the Lord. You will know that I am the one, the Holy One of Israel.

God's Sovereignty

15 Look, I will make you into a new threshing sledge, with sharp teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.

16 You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the Lord, you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 The poor and the needy will seek refuge in you, and there will be no one to make them afraid.

18 But your eyes will see the king in his beauty, and you will see a land that stretches far and wide.

19 Your dead will live, their bodies will rise; those who dwell in the dust will awake and shout for joy.

20 For your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to new life, and the wilderness will be like the Jordan River Valley, where people will walk and not stumble.

21 The people will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit the desolate places, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 They will not build and others inhabit, they will not plant and others eat, for the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will be like a work of my hands.

23 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the one, and there is no other God.

24 From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

25 You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.

26 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 27 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.