Isa 45:1-2 | NET2full | STEP | “ This is what the Lord says to his chosen one , to Cyrus , whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him and disarm kings , to open doors before him so gates remain unclosed :

Isaiah 45:1-2

1 “This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, ^{▼▼tn Heb “anointed” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “his appointed king.”}
to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold ^{▼▼sn The “right hand” is a symbol of activity and strength; the Lord directs Cyrus’ activities and assures his success.}
in order to subdue nations before him
and disarm kings, ^{▼▼tn Heb “and the belts of kings I will loosen”; NRSV “strip kings of their robes”; NIV “strip kings of their armor.”}
to open doors before him
so gates remain unclosed:

2 ‘I will go before you
and level mountains. ^{▼▼tc The form הֲדוּרִים (hadurim) is difficult. It may need to be emended to an original הָרָרִים (hararim, “mountains”), the reduplicated form of הָר (har, “mountain”). 1QIsaa and the LXX support an unambiguous text of “mountains.”}
Bronze doors I will shatter
and iron bars ^{▼▼tn That is, on the gates. Cf. CEV “break the iron bars on bronze gates.”} I will hack through.