9 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,

those who are nothing but potsherds

among the potsherds on the ground.

Does the clay say to the potter,

‘What are you making?’

Does your work say,

‘The potter has no hands’?

10 Woe to the one who says to a father,

‘What have you begotten?’

or to a mother,

‘What have you brought to birth?’

11 “This is what the Lord says—

the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Concerning things to come,

do you question me about my children,

or give me orders about the work of my hands?

12 It is I who made the earth

and created mankind on it.

My own hands stretched out the heavens;

I marshaled their starry hosts.

13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:

I will make all his ways straight.

He will rebuild my city

and set my exiles free,

but not for a price or reward,

says the Lord Almighty.”

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? 11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, And concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, And created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, And all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways: He shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, Not for price nor reward, Saith the Lord of hosts.

9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.

Does a clay pot argue with its maker?

Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,

‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’

Does the pot exclaim,

‘How clumsy can you be?’

10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,

‘Why was I born?’

or if it said to its mother,

‘Why did you make me this way?’ ”

11 This is what the Lord says—

the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:

“Do you question what I do for my children?

Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

12 I am the one who made the earth

and created people to live on it.

With my hands I stretched out the heavens.

All the stars are at my command.

13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,

and I will guide his actions.

He will restore my city and free my captive people—

without seeking a reward!

I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!

Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!

Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’

Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?

10 Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’

Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ”

11 Thus says the Lord,

The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:

“Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons;

And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

12 I have made the earth,

And created man on it.

I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,

And all their host I have commanded.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness,

And I will direct all his ways;

He shall build My city

And let My exiles go free,

Not for price nor reward,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

9 “How terrible it will be for those who argue with the God who made them.

They are like a piece of broken pottery among many pieces.

The clay does not ask the potter,

‘What are you doing?’

The thing that is made doesn’t say to its maker,

‘You have no hands.’

10 How terrible it will be for the child who says to his father,

‘Why are you giving me life?’

How terrible it will be for the child who says to his mother,

‘Why are you giving birth to me?’ ”

11 This is what the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker, says:

“You ask me about what will happen.

You question me about my children.

You give me orders about what I have made.

12 I made the earth

and all the people living on it.

With my own hands I stretched out the skies,

and I commanded all the armies in the sky.

13 I will bring Cyrus to do good things,

and I will make his work easy.

He will rebuild my city

and set my people free

without any payment or reward.

The Lord All-Powerful says this.”

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With what travailest thou?

11 Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded. 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.

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let a potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that formeth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to his mother, What hast thou brought forth?

11 Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. 12 It is I that have made the earth, and created man upon it; it is I, my hands, that have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 It is I that have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts.

9 How horrible it will be for the one who quarrels with his maker. 

He is pottery among other earthenware pots. 

Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, “What are you making?” 

Does your work say to you, “There are no handles”? 

10 How horrible it will be for the one 

who says to his father, “Why did you conceive me?” 

or to his mother, “Why did you go through labor pains for me?” 

11 The Lord is the Holy One and the maker of Israel. 

This is what the Lord says: 

Ask me about what is going to happen to my children! 

Are you going to give me orders concerning my handiwork? 

12 I made the earth and created humans on it. 

I stretched out the heavens with my own hands. 

I commanded all the stars ⸤to shine⸥. 

13 I prepared Cyrus for my righteous purpose. 

I will make all his roads straight. 

He will build my city and let my exiles go free 

without any payment or any reward, says the Lord of Armies. 

9 “Woe to the one who argues with his Maker—

one clay pot among many.

Does clay say to the one forming it,

‘What are you making?’

Or does your work say,

‘He has no hands’?

10 How absurd is the one who says to his father,

‘What are you fathering?’

or to his mother,

‘What are you giving birth to?’ ”

11 This is what the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel and its Maker, says:

“Ask Me what is to happen to My sons,

and instruct Me about the work of My hands.

12 I made the earth,

and created man on it.

It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all their host.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness,

and will level all roads for him.

He will rebuild My city,

and set My exiles free,

not for a price or a bribe,”

says the Lord of Hosts.

9 Woe to you who strive with your Maker,

earthen vessels with the potter!

Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”?

or “Your work has no handles”?

10 Woe to anyone who says to a father, “What are you begetting?”

or to a woman, “With what are you in labor?”

11 Thus says the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Will you question me about my children,

or command me concerning the work of my hands?

12 I made the earth,

and created humankind upon it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all their host.

13 I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness,

and I will make all his paths straight;

he shall build my city

and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,

says the Lord of hosts.

9 Woe to the one who strives with his maker,

a potsherd among potsherds of earth!

Does the clay say to the one who fashions it,

‘What are you making?’

and ‘Your work has no hands’?

10 Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What you are begetting?’

or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’ ”

11 Thus says Yahweh, the holy one of Israel,

and its maker:

“Ask me of the things to come about my children,

and you command me about the work of my hands.

12 I myself made the earth,

and I created humankind upon it.

I, my hands, stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all their host.

13 I myself have stirred him up in righteousness,

and I will make all his paths smooth.

He himself shall build my city,

and he shall set my exiles free,

not for price or a gift,” says Yahweh of hosts.

9 How terrible it will be for anyone who argues with his Maker!

He is like a broken piece of pottery lying on the ground.

Does clay say to a potter,

“What are you making?”

Does a pot say,

“You don’t have any skill”?

10 How terrible it will be for anyone who says to his father,

“Why did you give me life?”

How terrible for anyone who says to his mother,

“Why have you brought me into the world?”

11 The Lord is the Holy One of Israel.

He made them.

He says to them,

“Are you asking me about what will happen to my children?

Are you telling me what I should do with what my hands have made?

12 I made the earth.

I created man to live there.

My own hands spread out the heavens.

I put all of the stars in their places.

13 I will stir up Cyrus and help him win his battles.

I will make all of his roads straight.

He will rebuild Jerusalem.

My people have been taken away from their country.

But he will set them free.

I will not pay him to do it.

He will not receive a reward for it,”

says the Lord who rules over all.

9 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—

An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!

Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’

Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?

10 “Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’

Or to a woman, ‘To what are you giving birth?’ ”

11 Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:

“Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons,

And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

12 “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it.

I stretched out the heavens with My hands

And I ordained all their host.

13 “I have aroused him in righteousness

And I will make all his ways smooth;

He will build My city and will let My exiles go free,

Without any payment or reward,” says the Lord of hosts.