כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֮ לִמְשִׁיחוֹ֮ לְכ֣וֹרֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־הֶחֱזַ֣קְתִּי בִֽימִינ֗וֹ לְרַד־לְפָנָיו֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם וּמׇתְנֵ֥י מְלָכִ֖ים אֲפַתֵּ֑חַ לִפְתֹּ֤חַ לְפָנָיו֙ דְּלָתַ֔יִם וּשְׁעָרִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִסָּגֵֽרוּ׃ Thus said GOD to Cyrus, the anointed one—
HavingaHaving Heb. “I have.” grasped his right hand,bgrasped his…hand Cf. note at 8.11.
Treading down nations before him,
Ungirding the loins of kings,cUngirding the loins of kings I.e., I made them helpless; one who wished to move freely belted his garment around the waist; cf. “engird,” v. 5.
Opening doors before him
And letting no gate stay shut:
אֲנִי֙ לְפָנֶ֣יךָ אֵלֵ֔ךְ וַהֲדוּרִ֖ים (אושר) [אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר] דַּלְת֤וֹת נְחוּשָׁה֙ אֲשַׁבֵּ֔ר וּבְרִיחֵ֥י בַרְזֶ֖ל אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃ I will march before you
And level the hills that loom up;dthe hills that loom up Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
I will shatter doors of bronze
And cut down iron bars.
וְנָתַתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ אוֹצְר֣וֹת חֹ֔שֶׁךְ וּמַטְמֻנֵ֖י מִסְתָּרִ֑ים לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־אֲנִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה הַקּוֹרֵ֥א בְשִׁמְךָ֖ אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ I will give you treasures concealed in the dark
And secret hoards—
So that you may know that it is I the ETERNAL One,
The God of Israel, who call you by name.
לְמַ֙עַן֙ עַבְדִּ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּחִירִ֑י וָאֶקְרָ֤א לְךָ֙ בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ אֲכַנְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יְדַעְתָּֽנִי׃ For the sake of My servant Jacob,
Israel My chosen one,
I call you by name,
I hail you by title, though you have not known Me.
אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין ע֔וֹד זוּלָתִ֖י אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֲאַזֶּרְךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יְדַעְתָּֽנִי׃ I am GOD and there is none else;
Beside Me, there is no god.
I engird you, though you have not known Me,
לְמַ֣עַן יֵדְע֗וּ מִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ וּמִמַּ֣עֲרָבָ֔הֿ כִּי־אֶ֖פֶס בִּלְעָדָ֑י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין עֽוֹד׃ So that they may know, from east to west,
That there is none but Me.
I am GOD and there is none else,
יוֹצֵ֥ר אוֹר֙ וּבוֹרֵ֣א חֹ֔שֶׁךְ עֹשֶׂ֥ה שָׁל֖וֹם וּב֣וֹרֵא רָ֑ע אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹשֶׂ֥ה כׇל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ {פ}
I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe—
I GOD do all these things.
הַרְעִ֤יפוּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִמַּ֔עַל וּשְׁחָקִ֖ים יִזְּלוּ־צֶ֑דֶק תִּפְתַּח־אֶ֣רֶץ וְיִפְרוּ־יֶ֗שַׁע וּצְדָקָ֤ה תַצְמִ֙יחַ֙ יַ֔חַד אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּרָאתִֽיו׃ {ס} Pour down, O skies, from above!
Let the heavens rain down victory!
Let the earth open up and triumph sprout,
Yes, let vindication spring up:
I GOD have created it.
ה֗וֹי רָ֚ב אֶת־יֹ֣צְר֔וֹ חֶ֖רֶשׂ אֶת־חַרְשֵׂ֣י אֲדָמָ֑ה הֲיֹאמַ֨ר חֹ֤מֶר לְיֹֽצְרוֹ֙ מַֽה־תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וּפׇעׇלְךָ֖ אֵין־יָדַ֥יִם לֽוֹ׃ {ס} Shame on anyone who argues with their Maker,
Though naught but a potsherd of earth!
Shall the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing?
Your work has no handles”?eYour work has no handles Emendation yields “To its maker, ‘You have no hands’?”
ה֛וֹי אֹמֵ֥ר לְאָ֖ב מַה־תּוֹלִ֑יד וּלְאִשָּׁ֖ה מַה־תְּחִילִֽין׃ {ס} Shame on anyone who asks a father, “What are you begetting?”
Or a woman, “What are you bearing?”
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיֹצְר֑וֹ הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת שְׁאָל֔וּנִי עַל־בָּנַ֛י וְעַל־פֹּ֥עַל יָדַ֖י תְּצַוֻּֽנִי׃ Thus said GOD,
Israel’s Holy One and Maker:
Will you question MefWill you question Me Heb. imperative. on the destiny of My children,
Will you instruct Me about the work of My hands?
אָֽנֹכִי֙ עָשִׂ֣יתִי אֶ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֖ם עָלֶ֣יהָ בָרָ֑אתִי אֲנִ֗י יָדַי֙ נָט֣וּ שָׁמַ֔יִם וְכׇל־צְבָאָ֖ם צִוֵּֽיתִי׃ It was I who made the earth
And created humankind upon it;
My own hands stretched out the heavens,
And I marshaled all their host.
אָֽנֹכִי֙ הַעִירֹתִ֣הֽוּ בְצֶ֔דֶק וְכׇל־דְּרָכָ֖יו אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֤ה עִירִי֙ וְגָלוּתִ֣י יְשַׁלֵּ֔חַ לֹ֤א בִמְחִיר֙ וְלֹ֣א בְשֹׁ֔חַד אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {ס} It was I who roused himghim I.e., Cyrus. for victory
And who level all roads for him.
He shall rebuild My city
And let My exiled people go
Without price and without payment
—said GOD of Hosts.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה יְגִ֨יעַ מִצְרַ֥יִם וּֽסְחַר־כּוּשׁ֮ וּסְבָאִים֮ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִדָּה֒ עָלַ֤יִךְ יַֽעֲבֹ֙רוּ֙ וְלָ֣ךְ יִֽהְי֔וּ אַחֲרַ֣יִךְ יֵלֵ֔כוּ בַּזִּקִּ֖ים יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ וְאֵלַ֤יִךְ יִֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ אֵלַ֣יִךְ יִתְפַּלָּ֔לוּ אַ֣ךְ בָּ֥ךְ אֵ֛ל וְאֵ֥ין ע֖וֹד אֶ֥פֶס אֱלֹהִֽים׃ Thus said GOD:
Egypt’s wealth and Cush’s gains
And Sabaites, long of limb,hlong of limb Emendation yields “bearing tribute.” For “tribute” cf. Ezra 4.20; 6.8; Neh. 5.4.
Shall pass over to you and be yours,
Pass over and follow you in fetters,
Bow low to you
And reverently address you:
“Only among you is God,
There is no other god at all!
אָכֵ֕ן אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ You are indeed a God who hides in concealment,
O God of Israel, who brings victory!
בּ֥וֹשׁוּ וְגַֽם־נִכְלְמ֖וּ כֻּלָּ֑ם יַחְדָּו֙ הָלְכ֣וּ בַכְּלִמָּ֔ה חָרָשֵׁ֖י צִירִֽים׃ Those who fabricate idols—
All are shamed and disgraced;
They slink away in disgrace together.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נוֹשַׁ֣ע בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת עוֹלָמִ֑ים לֹֽא־תֵבֹ֥שׁוּ וְלֹא־תִכָּלְמ֖וּ עַד־ע֥וֹלְמֵי עַֽד׃ {פ}
But Israel has won through GOD
Triumph everlasting.
You shall not be shamed or disgraced
In all the ages to come!”
כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָֽמַר־יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה בּוֹרֵ֨א הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים יֹצֵ֨ר הָאָ֤רֶץ וְעֹשָׂהּ֙ ה֣וּא כֽוֹנְנָ֔הּ לֹא־תֹ֥הוּ בְרָאָ֖הּ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יְצָרָ֑הּ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין עֽוֹד׃ For thus said GOD,
The Creator of heaven who alone is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who alone established it—
Who did not create it a waste,
But formed it for habitation:
I am GOD, and there is none else.
לֹ֧א בַסֵּ֣תֶר דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי בִּמְקוֹם֙ אֶ֣רֶץ חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לֹ֥א אָמַ֛רְתִּי לְזֶ֥רַע יַעֲקֹ֖ב תֹּ֣הוּ בַקְּשׁ֑וּנִי אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ דֹּבֵ֣ר צֶ֔דֶק מַגִּ֖יד מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ I did not speak in secret,
At a site in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the stock of Jacob,
“Seek Me out in a wasteland”—
I GOD, who foretell reliably,
Who announce what is true.
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וָבֹ֛אוּ הִֽתְנַגְּשׁ֥וּ יַחְדָּ֖ו פְּלִיטֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֑ם לֹ֣א יָדְע֗וּ הַנֹּֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־עֵ֣ץ פִּסְלָ֔ם וּמִֽתְפַּלְלִ֔ים אֶל־אֵ֖ל לֹ֥א יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ Come, gather together,
Draw nigh, you remnants of the nations!
No foreknowledge had they who carry their wooden images
And pray to a god who cannot give success.
הַגִּ֣ידוּ וְהַגִּ֔ישׁוּ אַ֥ף יִֽוָּעֲצ֖וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו מִ֣י הִשְׁמִ֩יעַ֩ זֹ֨את מִקֶּ֜דֶם מֵאָ֣ז הִגִּידָ֗הּ הֲל֨וֹא אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ וְאֵֽין־ע֤וֹד אֱלֹהִים֙ מִבַּלְעָדַ֔י אֵל־צַדִּ֣יק וּמוֹשִׁ֔יעַ אַ֖יִן זוּלָתִֽי׃ Speak up, compare testimony—
Let them even take counsel together!
Who announced this aforetime,
Foretold it of old?
Was it not I the ETERNAL One?
Then there is no god beside Me,
No God exists beside Me
Who foretells truly and grants success.
פְּנוּ־אֵלַ֥י וְהִוָּשְׁע֖וּ כׇּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י אֲנִי־אֵ֖ל וְאֵ֥ין עֽוֹד׃ Turn to Me and gain success,
All the ends of earth!
For I am God, and there is none else.
בִּ֣י נִשְׁבַּ֔עְתִּי יָצָ֨א מִפִּ֧י צְדָקָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר וְלֹ֣א יָשׁ֑וּב כִּי־לִי֙ תִּכְרַ֣ע כׇּל־בֶּ֔רֶךְ תִּשָּׁבַ֖ע כׇּל־לָשֽׁוֹן׃ By Myself have I sworn,
From My mouth has issued truth,
A word that shall not turn back:
To Me every knee shall bend,
Every tongue swear loyalty.
אַ֧ךְ בַּיהֹוָ֛ה לִ֥י אָמַ֖ר צְדָק֣וֹת וָעֹ֑ז עָדָיו֙ יָב֣וֹא וְיֵבֹ֔שׁוּ כֹּ֖ל הַנֶּחֱרִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ They shall say: “Only through GOD
Can I find victory and might.iThey shall say: “Only through GOD / Can I find victory and might…” Emendation yields “Only in GOD / Are there victory and might for mortals.”
When people trust injtrust in Lit. “come to”; for this idiom cf. Ps. 65.3; Job 6.20. [God],
All their adversaries are put to shame.
בַּיהֹוָ֛ה יִצְדְּק֥וּ וְיִֽתְהַלְל֖וּ כׇּל־זֶ֥רַע יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ It is through GOD that all the offspring of Israel
Have vindication and glory.”