John Gill Commentary Isaiah 45:13

"I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Isaiah 45:13 (ASV)

I have raised him up in righteousness
Though this may be said with some respect to Cyrus, yet chiefly to Christ, of whom Cyrus was a type; him the Lord appointed and determined to be the Saviour and Redeemer of his people; him he sent forth in time for that purpose, in righteousness or faithfulness concerning him: or, "unto righteousness" ^F19 , as the Vulgate Latin version; or, "with righteousness", as the Septuagint version is ^F20 : I have raised him up a King with righteousness ;
a righteous King, a King that reigns in righteousness, as Christ does, and better agrees with him than Cyrus; see (Jeremiah 23:5Jeremiah 23:6) : and I will direct all his ways ;
or "make them plain" ^F21 ; remove all difficulties and obstructions out of his way; he shall succeed and prosper, as the "pleasure of the Lord did prosper" in the hands of Christ; God being at his right hand as man and Mediator, to direct, counsel, and assist him, and to make him successful.

he shall build my city ;
not Cyrus, for he did not build the city of Jerusalem, whatever orders he might give for it, (Isaiah 44:28) though his proclamation only mentions the temple, (Ezra 1:2–5) , but Christ, the builder of the church, often compared to a city, and called the city of God, of which the saints are fellow citizens; and which is built by Christ, upon himself the Rock, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, (Matthew 16:18) :

and he shall let go my captives, not for price, nor reward, saith the
Lord of hosts ;
the Lord's people are captives to sin, Satan, and the law; Christ has not only redeemed these captives, but has proclaimed liberty to them, and delivered them from their bondage by his Spirit and grace; and all this freely, not through any merits of theirs, but of his own rich grace and mercy; and though they are redeemed with a price; yet not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; and whatever their redemption and freedom cost him, it costs them nothing, it is to them without money and without price, (Isaiah 52:3) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F19: (qdub) "adjustitiam", V. L.
• F20: (meta dikaiosunhv) , Sept. "cum justitia", Forerius.
• F21: (rvya) "aequabo", Piscator; "aequaturus", Junius & Tremellius; "rectificabo", Vatablus; "rectificabam", Cocceius; "aequas faciam", Vitringa.