21 Heb “Woe [to] the one who argues with the one who formed him.”
22 The words “one who is like a mere” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and clarification.
23 Heb “Should the clay say to the one who forms it?” The rhetorical question anticipates a reply, “Of course not!”
24 The words “in the world” are supplied in the translation to approximate in English idiom the force of the sarcastic question.
25 Heb “your work, there are no hands for it,” i.e., “your work looks like something made by a person who has no hands.”
26 Heb “Woe [to] one who says” ( and both similar); “How terrible it will be.”
27 see the note at v. . This phrase occurs a second time later in this verse.
28 Verses 9–10 may allude to the exiles’ criticism that the Lord does not appear to know what he is doing.
29 See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in .
30 The Hebrew text reads “the one who formed him, the coming things.” Among various suggestions, some have proposed an emendation of יֹצְרוֹ (yotséro, “the one who formed him”) to יֹצֵר (yotser, “the one who forms”; the suffixed form in the Hebrew text may be influenced by vv. 9–10, where the same form appears twice) and takes “coming things” as the object of the participle (either objective genitive or accusative): “the one who brings the future into being.”
31 Heb “Ask me” The rhetorical command sarcastically expresses the Lord’s disgust with those who question his ways.
32 Heb “Do you command me about …?” The rhetorical question sarcastically expresses the Lord’s disgust with those who question his ways.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,

a pot among earthen pots!

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

or ‘Your work has no handles’?

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

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

Thus says the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:

“Ask me of things to come;

will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“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’?

Woe to the one who says to a father,

‘What have you begotten?’

or to a mother,

‘What have you brought to birth?’

“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?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“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’?

Woe to the one who says to his father,

‘What are you fathering?’

or to his mother,

‘What are you giving birth to?’ ”

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.

NLTNew Living Translation

“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?’

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?’ ”

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?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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’?

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

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

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

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?

Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou?

Or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

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.

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