Isaiah 45:8–10

8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up,

let righteousness flourish with it;

I, the Lord, have created it.

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?’

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above,

And let the skies pour down righteousness:

Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation,

And let righteousness spring up together;

I the Lord have created it.

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?

8 “Open up, O heavens,

and pour out your righteousness.

Let the earth open wide

so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.

I, the Lord, created them.

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?’ ”

8 “Rain down, you heavens, from above,

And let the skies pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,

And let righteousness spring up together.

I, the Lord, have created it.

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?’ ”

8 “Sky above, make victory fall like rain;

clouds, pour down victory.

Let the earth receive it,

and let salvation grow,

and let victory grow with it.

I, the Lord, have created it.

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?’ ”

8 Distil, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up together; I, Jehovah, have created it.

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?

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and with it let righteousness spring up. I, Jehovah, have created it. 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?

8 Rain down from above, you heavens, 

and pour down righteousness, you skies. 

Let the earth open. 

Let salvation and righteousness sprout. 

Let them spring up. 

I, the Lord, have created them. 

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?” 

8 “Heavens, sprinkle from above,

and let the skies shower righteousness.

Let the earth open up

so that salvation will sprout

and righteousness will spring up with it.

I, Yahweh, have created it.

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?’ ”

8 Shower, O heavens, from above,

and let the skies rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,

and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;

I the Lord have created it.

9 Woe to those who strive with their 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 fathering?”

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

8 Trickle, O heavens, from above,

and let clouds trickle with righteousness;

let the earth open so that salvation may be fruitful,

and let it cause righteousness to sprout along with it.

I myself, Yahweh, have created it.

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?’ ”

8 “ ‘Rain down godliness, you heavens above.

Let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide to receive it.

Let freedom spring to life.

Let godliness grow along with it.

I have created all of those things.

I am the Lord.’ ”

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?”

8 “Drip down, O heavens, from above,

And let the clouds pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit,

And righteousness spring up with it.

I, the Lord, have created it.

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?’ ”