Isaiah 45:11-19

¹¹ The Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, says, Will you put a question to me about the things which are to come, or will you give me orders about my sons, and the work of my hands? ¹² I have made the earth, forming man on it: by my hands the heavens have been stretched out, and all the stars put in their ordered places. ¹³ I have sent him out to overcome the nations, and I will make all his ways straight: I will give him the work of building my town, and he will let my prisoners go free, without price or reward, says the Lord of armies. ¹⁴ The Lord says, The workmen of Egypt, and the traders of Ethiopia, and the tall Sabaeans, will come over the sea to you, and they will be yours; they will go after you; in chains they will come over: and they will go down on their faces before you, and will make prayer to you, saying, Truly, God is among you; and there is no other God. ¹⁵ Truly, you have a secret God, the God of Israel is a Saviour! ¹⁶ All those who have gone against him will be put to shame; the makers of images will be made low. ¹⁷ But the Lord will make Israel free with an eternal salvation: you will not be put to shame or made low for ever and ever. ¹⁸ For this is the word of the Lord who made the heavens; he is God; the maker and designer of the earth; who made it not to be a waste, but as a living-place for man: I am the Lord, and there is no other. ¹⁹ I have not given my word in secret, in a place in the underworld; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Go into a waste land to make request of me: I the Lord say what is true, my word is righteousness.