Isaiah 45:19

17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.

18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.

20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

21 Speak up and present your case— yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.
KJV
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
WEB
I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
ASV
I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
DARBY
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain: I [am] Jehovah, speaking righteousness, declaring things which are right.
BLB
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the land; I have not said to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain!’ I [am] YHWH, the One speaking righteousness, declaring uprightness.
ÅB
Ikke i lønndom har jeg talt, ikke på et sted i et mørkt land; jeg har ikke sagt til Jakobs slekt: Søk meg uten nytte! Jeg, Herren, taler rettferdighet, forkynner det som rett er.
OTB
Jeg har ikke talt i hemmelighet, fra et skjult sted i et land av mørke; jeg har ikke sagt til Jakobs etterkommere: ‘Søk meg forgjeves.’ Jeg, Herren, taler sannhet; jeg erklærer hva som er rett.
B1930
Ikke i lønndom har jeg talt, ikke på et sted i et mørkt land; jeg har ikke sagt til Jakobs ætt: Søk mig uten nytte! Jeg, Herren, taler rettferdighet, forkynner det som rett er.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 48:16

    Come near to Me and listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it happened, I was there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.

    Read in context
  • Amos 5:4

    For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live!

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:19–20

    God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 29:13–14

    You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 30:5

    Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

    Read in context
  • John 18:20

    “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 9:10

    Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

    Read in context
  • James 4:3

    And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

    Read in context