God Calls Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)

1  כֹּה־ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) לִמְשִׁיחוֹ֮ (to His anointed), לְכ֣וֹרֶשׁ (to Cyrus),

אֲשֶׁר־ (of whom) הֶחֱזַ֣קְתִּי (I have taken hold), בִֽימִינ֗וֹ (of his right hand)

לְרַד־ (to subdue) לְפָנָיו֙ (before his face) גּוֹיִ֔ם (nations)

וּמָתְנֵ֥י (and the loins) מְלָכִ֖ים (of kings), אֲפַתֵּ֑חַ (I will open)

לִפְתֹּ֤חַ (to open) לְפָנָיו֙ (before his face) דְּלָתַ֔יִם (doors);

וּשְׁעָרִ֖ים (so that the gates) לֹ֥א (not) יִסָּגֵֽרוּ׃ (will be shut);

2  אֲנִי֙ (I) לְפָנֶ֣יךָ (before you) אֵלֵ֔ךְ (will go)

וַהֲדוּרִ֖ים (and the exalted places); אוֹשִׁר (I will level);

דַּלְת֤וֹת (the gates) נְחוּשָׁה֙ (of bronze), אֲשַׁבֵּ֔ר (I will break apart)

וּבְרִיחֵ֥י (and the bars) בַרְזֶ֖ל (of iron); אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃ (I will cut through).

3  וְנָתַתִּ֤י (And I will give) לְךָ֙ (to you) אוֹצְר֣וֹת (the treasures) חֹ֔שֶׁךְ (of darkness),

וּמַטְמֻנֵ֖י (and hidden riches) מִסְתָּרִ֑ים (of secret places),

לְמַ֣עַן (so that) תֵּדַ֗ע (you may know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֧י (I am), יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH),

הַקּוֹרֵ֥א (the One calling you) בְשִׁמְךָ֖ (by your name), אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

4  לְמַ֙עַן֙ (For the sake) עַבְדִּ֣י (of My servant) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob)

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (and Israel) בְּחִירִ֑י (My chosen one),

וָאֶקְרָ֤א (and I have called) לְךָ֙ (you) בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ (by your name);

אֲכַנְּךָ֖ (I give you a name)

וְלֹ֥א (though you have not) יְדַעְתָּֽנִי׃ (known Me).

5  אֲנִ֤י (I am) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), וְאֵ֣ין (and there is no) ע֔וֹד (other),

זוּלָתִ֖י (besides Me) אֵ֣ין (there are no) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (gods)

אֲאַזֶּרְךָ֖ (I will gird you)

וְלֹ֥א (though you have not) יְדַעְתָּֽנִי׃ (known Me).

6  לְמַ֣עַן (So that) יֵדְע֗וּ (they may know)

מִמִּזְרַח־ (from the rising) שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ (of the sun), וּמִמַּ֣עֲרָבָ֔הּ (and from the west),

כִּי־ (that) אֶ֖פֶס (there is none) בִּלְעָדָ֑י (besides Me)

אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) עֽוֹד׃ (other).

7  יוֹצֵ֥ר (Forming) אוֹר֙ (the light), וּבוֹרֵ֣א (and creating) חֹ֔שֶׁךְ (darkness),

עֹשֶׂ֥ה (making) שָׁל֖וֹם (peace), וּב֣וֹרֵא (and creating) רָ֑ע (calamity);

אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) עֹשֶׂ֥ה (the One doing) כָל־ (all) אֵֽלֶּה׃ס (these things).

8  הַרְעִ֤יפוּ (Rain down), שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (O heavens), מִמַּ֔עַל (from above),

וּשְׁחָקִ֖ים (and let the skies) יִזְּלוּ־ (pour down) צֶ֑דֶק (righteousness);

תִּפְתַּח־ (open up), אֶ֣רֶץ (let the earth) וְיִפְרוּ־ (and let sprout up) יֶ֗שַׁע (salvation), וּצְדָקָ֤ה (and righteousness)

תַצְמִ֙יחַ֙ (let it spring up) יַ֔חַד (together);

אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּרָאתִֽיו׃ס (have created it).

9  ה֗וֹי (Woe to) רָ֚ב (the one striving) אֶת־ (with) יֹ֣צְר֔וֹ (the One having formed him)!

חֶ֖רֶשׂ (A potsherd) אֶת־ (among) חַרְשֵׂ֣י (the potsherds) אֲדָמָ֑ה (of the earth).

הֲיֹאמַ֨ר (Will say) חֹ֤מֶר (the clay) לְיֹֽצְרוֹ֙ (to the one fashioning it)

מַֽה־ (What) תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (are you doing)

וּפָעָלְךָ֖ (or ‘Your work),

אֵין־ (has no) יָדַ֥יִם (hands)? לֽוֹ׃ס (Unto it).

10  ה֛וֹי (Woe to) אֹמֵ֥ר (the one saying) לְאָ֖ב (to his father),

מַה־ (What) תּוֹלִ֑יד (are you begetting)

וּלְאִשָּׁ֖ה (or to a woman),

מַה־ (What) תְּחִילִֽין׃ס (have you brought forth)?

11  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֧ר (says) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH),

קְד֥וֹשׁ (the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), וְיֹצְר֑וֹ (and the One having made him),

הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת (Of things to come) שְׁאָל֔וּנִי (will you⁺ ask Me)

עַל־ (About) בָּנַ֛י (My sons), וְעַל־ (and about) פֹּ֥עַל (the work) יָדַ֖י (of My hands)

תְּצַוֻּֽנִי׃ (will you⁺ command Me).

12  אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I) עָשִׂ֣יתִי (have made) אֶ֔רֶץ (the earth),

וְאָדָ֖ם (and man) עָלֶ֣יהָ (on it) בָרָ֑אתִי (have created) אֲנִ֗י (I),

יָדַי֙ (My hands), נָט֣וּ (have stretched out) שָׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens),

וְכָל־ (and all) צְבָאָ֖ם (their host) צִוֵּֽיתִי׃ (I have commanded).

13  אָנֹכִי֙ (I) הַעִירֹתִ֣הֽוּ (have stirred him up) בְצֶ֔דֶק (in righteousness),

וְכָל־ (and all) דְּרָכָ֖יו (his ways); אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר (I will make straight)

הֽוּא־ (he) יִבְנֶ֤ה (will build) עִירִי֙ (My city),

וְגָלוּתִ֣י (and My captive ones), יְשַׁלֵּ֔חַ (he will send out)

לֹ֤א (not) בִמְחִיר֙ (for a price) וְלֹ֣א (and not) בְשֹׁ֔חַד (for a bribe),

אָמַ֖ר (says) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH of) צְבָאֽוֹת׃פ (Hosts).

14  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH)

יְגִ֨יעַ (The labor) מִצְרַ֥יִם (of Egypt), וּֽסְחַר־ (and the merchandise) כּוּשׁ֮ (of Cush)

וּסְבָאִים֮ (and of the Sabeans), אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) מִדָּה֒ (of stature),

עָלַ֤יִךְ (to you) יַעֲבֹ֙רוּ֙ (they will pass over)

וְלָ֣ךְ (and unto you) יִֽהְי֔וּ (they will be)

אַחֲרַ֣יִךְ (behind you) יֵלֵ֔כוּ (they will walk)

בַּזִּקִּ֖ים (in chains) יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ (they will pass by), וְאֵלַ֤יִךְ (and to you) יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ֙ (they will bow down)

אֵלַ֣יִךְ (to you) יִתְפַּלָּ֔לוּ (they will plead)

אַ֣ךְ (Surely) בָּ֥ךְ (with you) אֵ֛ל (is God) וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) ע֖וֹד (other),

אֶ֥פֶס (only) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God).

15  אָכֵ֕ן (Truly) אַתָּ֖ה (You are) אֵ֣ל (God) מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר (the hidden One),

אֱלֹהֵ֥י (O God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (the One saving).

16  בּ֥וֹשׁוּ (They have been put to shame), וְגַֽם־ (and also) נִכְלְמ֖וּ (disgraced), כֻּלָּ֑ם (all of them)

יַחְדָּו֙ (together) הָלְכ֣וּ (they will go forth) בַכְּלִמָּ֔ה (in disgrace) חָרָשֵׁ֖י (the makers) צִירִֽים׃ (of idols).

17  יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) נוֹשַׁ֣ע (has been saved) בַּיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH)

תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת (a salvation); עוֹלָמִ֑ים (everlasting)

לֹא־ (not) תֵבֹ֥שׁוּ (will you⁺ be put to shame) וְלֹא־ (and not) תִכָּלְמ֖וּ (disgraced)

עַד־ (even to). ע֥וֹלְמֵי (Ages) עַֽד׃פ (everlasting).

18  כִּ֣י (For) כֹ֣ה (thus) אָֽמַר־ (says) יְ֠הוָה (YHWH)

בּוֹרֵ֨א (the One creating) הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם (the heavens); ה֣וּא (He) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (is God)

יֹצֵ֨ר (the One forming) הָאָ֤רֶץ (the earth) וְעֹשָׂהּ֙ (and making it)

ה֣וּא (He) כֽוֹנְנָ֔הּ (has established it)

לֹא־ (not) תֹ֥הוּ (as a void), בְרָאָ֖הּ (did He create it)

לָשֶׁ֣בֶת (to be inhabited), יְצָרָ֑הּ (He formed it)

אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH);

וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) עֽוֹד׃ (other).

19  לֹ֧א (I have not) בַסֵּ֣תֶר (in secret), דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי (spoken)

בִּמְקוֹם֙ (place) אֶ֣רֶץ (of the land); חֹ֔שֶׁךְ (in a dark)

לֹ֥א (not) אָמַ֛רְתִּי (have I said) לְזֶ֥רַע (to the seed) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (of Jacob),

תֹּ֣הוּ (In vain); בַקְּשׁ֑וּנִי (seek Me)

אֲנִ֤י (I am) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) דֹּבֵ֣ר (the One speaking) צֶ֔דֶק (righteousness),

מַגִּ֖יד (declaring) מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ (uprightness).

20  הִקָּבְצ֥וּ (Assemble yourselves) וָבֹ֛אוּ (and come); הִֽתְנַגְּשׁ֥וּ (draw near) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together),

פְּלִיטֵ֣י (O fugitives) הַגּוֹיִ֑ם (of the nations);

לֹ֣א (they do not) יָדְע֗וּ (know it) הַנֹּֽשְׂאִים֙ (those carrying) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֣ץ (the wood) פִּסְלָ֔ם (of their idol),

וּמִתְפַּלְלִ֔ים (and praying) אֶל־ (to) אֵ֖ל (a god) לֹ֥א (that not) יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (can save).

21  הַגִּ֣ידוּ (Declare it) וְהַגִּ֔ישׁוּ (and approach);

אַ֥ף (even), יִֽוָּעֲצ֖וּ (let them take counsel) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together);

מִ֣י (who) הִשְׁמִיעַ֩ (has reported) זֹ֨את (this) מִקֶּ֜דֶם (from of old)?

מֵאָ֣ז (From that time)? הִגִּידָ֗הּ (Having declared it)

הֲל֨וֹא (Is it not) אֲנִ֤י (I) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH)?

וְאֵֽין־ (And there is no) ע֤וֹד (other) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) מִבַּלְעָדַ֔י (besides Me)

אֵֽל־ (a God) צַדִּ֣יק (righteous) וּמוֹשִׁ֔יעַ (and bringing salvation);

אַ֖יִן (there is none) זוּלָתִֽי׃ (besides Me).

22  פְּנוּ־ (Turn) אֵלַ֥י (to Me) וְהִוָּשְׁע֖וּ (and be saved),

כָּל־ (all) אַפְסֵי־ (the ends) אָ֑רֶץ (of the earth);

כִּ֥י (for) אֲנִי־ (I am) אֵ֖ל (God),

וְאֵ֥ין (and there is no) עֽוֹד׃ (other).

23  בִּ֣י (By Myself) נִשְׁבַּ֔עְתִּי (I have sworn)

יָצָ֨א (has gone forth) מִפִּ֧י (from My mouth) צְדָקָ֛ה (righteousness),

דָּבָ֖ר (a word) וְלֹ֣א (that not) יָשׁ֑וּב (will turn back),

כִּי־ (indeed) לִי֙ (before Me) תִּכְרַ֣ע (will bow), כָּל־ (every) בֶּ֔רֶךְ (knee)

תִּשָּׁבַ֖ע (will swear) כָּל־ (every) לָשֽׁוֹן׃ (tongue).

24  אַ֧ךְ (Only), בַּיהוָ֛ה (in YHWH) לִ֥י (of Me) אָמַ֖ר (He said),

צְדָק֣וֹת (are righteousness) וָעֹ֑ז (and strength);

עָדָיו֙ (to Him) יָב֣וֹא (they will come); וְיֵבֹ֔שׁוּ (and will be ashamed).

כֹּ֖ל (All) הַנֶּחֱרִ֥ים (those raging) בּֽוֹ׃ (against Him).

25  בַּיהוָ֛ה (In YHWH) יִצְדְּק֥וּ (will be justified), וְיִֽתְהַלְל֖וּ (and will glory). כָּל־ (All)

זֶ֥רַע (the seed) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).