14-16 “Come everybody, gather around, listen:
    Who among the gods has delivered the news?
I, God, love this man Cyrus, and I’m using him
    to do what I want with Babylon.
I, yes I, have spoken. I’ve called him.
    I’ve brought him here. He’ll be successful.
Come close, listen carefully:
    I’ve never kept secrets from you.
    I’ve always been present with you.”

Your Progeny, Like Grains of Sand

16-19 And now, the Master, God, sends me and his Spirit
    with this Message from God
    your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel:
“I am God, your God,
    who teaches you how to live right and well.
    I show you what to do, where to go.
If you had listened all along to what I told you,
    your life would have flowed full like a river,
    blessings rolling in like waves from the sea.
Children and grandchildren are like sand,
    your progeny like grains of sand.
There would be no end of them,
    no danger of losing touch with me.”

20 Get out of Babylon! Run from the Babylonians!
    Shout the news. Broadcast it.
Let the world know, the whole world.
    Tell them, “God redeemed his dear servant Jacob!”

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18 If only you had paid attention(A) to my commands,
    your peace(B) would have been like a river,(C)
    your well-being(D) like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants(E) would have been like the sand,(F)
    your children like its numberless grains;(G)
their name would never be blotted out(H)
    nor destroyed from before me.”

20 Leave Babylon,
    flee(I) from the Babylonians!
Announce this with shouts of joy(J)
    and proclaim it.
Send it out to the ends of the earth;(K)
    say, “The Lord has redeemed(L) his servant Jacob.”

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