Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to (a) Cyrus, whose (b) right
hand I have held, to (c) subdue nations before him; and I will loose
the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the
gates shall not be shut;
(a) To assure the Jews of their deliverance against the great
temptat... [ Continue Reading ]
I will go before thee, and make the (d) crooked places straight: I
will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut asunder the bars of
iron:
(d) I will take away all impediments and hindrances.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of
secret places, that thou mayest (e) know that I, the LORD, who call
[thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel.
(e) Not that Cyrus knew God to worship him correctly, but he had a
certain particular knowledge as profane men may hav... [ Continue Reading ]
For Jacob my servant's (f) sake, and Israel my elect, I have even
called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not
known me.
(f) Not for anything that is in you, or for your worthiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God besides
me: I (g) girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
(g) I have given you strength, power and authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
I form the (h) light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create
evil: I the LORD do all these [things].
(h) I send peace and war, prosperity and adversity, as in (Amos 3:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down (i)
righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation,
and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have (k) created
it.
(i) He comforts the Jews as if he would say, "Though when you look to
the heavens and e... [ Continue Reading ]
(l) Woe to him that contendeth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd
[contend] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him
that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, (m) He hath no
hands?
(l) By this he bridles their impatience, who in adversity and trouble
murmur against God, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me (n)
of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my
hands command ye me.
(n) Instead of murmuring, humble yourselves and ask what you will for
the consolation of my children, and you will be sure of it as you are... [ Continue Reading ]
I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands,
have stretched out the heavens, and all their (o) host have I
commanded.
(o) That is, the stars.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have raised (p) him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his
ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for
(q) price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
(p) That is, Cyrus, that I may show by him the faithfulness of my
promise in delivering my people.
(q) Meaning,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, The labour (r) of Egypt, and merchandise of Cush
and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to thee, and they
shall be (s) thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall
come over, and they shall fall down to thee, they shall make
supplication to thee, [saying]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily thou [art] a God that (t) hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the
Saviour.
(t) By this he exhorts the Jews to patience, though their deliverance
is deferred for a time: showing that they would not repent their long
patience, but the wicked and idolaters will be destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that
formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it
not in vain, he formed it to be (u) inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and
[there is] none else.
(u) That is, of men, but chiefly of his Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have not spoken in secret, (x) in a dark place of the earth: I have
not said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak
righteousness, I declare things that are right.
(x) As do the false gods, who give uncertain answers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, (y) ye [that have]
escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of
their graven image, and pray to a god [that] cannot save.
(y) All you idolaters who though you seem to have worldly dignity yet
in God's sight you are vile and... [ Continue Reading ]
Look to me, and be ye saved, all (z) the ends of the earth: for I [am]
God, and [there is] none else.
(z) He calls the idolaters to repentance, willing them to look on him
with the eye of faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] (a)
righteousness, and shall not return, That to me every (b) knee shall
bow, every tongue shall swear.
(a) That is, that the thing which I have promise will be faithfully
performed.
(b) The knowledge of God and the true worshipping wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely, (c) shall [one] say, in the LORD have I righteousness and
strength: [even] to him shall [men] come; and all that are (d)
incensed against him shall be ashamed.
(c) Meaning the faithful will feel and confess this.
(d) All the contemners of God.... [ Continue Reading ]