Today’s Scripture:

“This is what the Lord says to his chosen one,[a]

to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold[b]in order to subdue nations before him,and disarm kings,[c]to open doors before him,so gates remain unclosed:

2 ‘I will go before youand level mountains.[d]Bronze doors I will shatterand iron bars[e] I will hack through.3 I will give you hidden treasures,[f]riches stashed away in secret places,so you may recognize that I am the Lord,the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,Israel, my chosen one,I call you by nameand give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit[g] to me.5 I am the Lord, I have no peer,[h]there is no God but me.I arm you for battle,[i] even though you do not recognize[j] me.6 I do this[k] so people[l] will recognize from east to westthat there is no God but me;I am the Lord, I have no peer.7 I am[m] the one who forms lightand creates darkness;[n]the one who brings about peaceand creates calamity.[o]I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.8 O sky, rain down from above!Let the clouds send down showers[p] of deliverance!Let the earth absorb it[q] so salvation may grow,[r]and deliverance may sprout up[s] along with it.I, the Lord, create it.’”[t]

9 One who argues with his Creator is in grave danger,[u]one who is like a mere[v] shard among the other shards on the ground!The clay should not say to the potter,[w]“What in the world[x] are you do...