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Romans 9:19–21

The Holman Christian Standard BibleOther versions

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19You will say to me, jtherefore, “Why then does He still find fault? kFor who can resist His will?” l20But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? mWill what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” n21Or has the potter no right over the clay, oto make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

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Cross references

  1. j9:19 Rm 11:19; 1Co 15:25; Jms 2:18
  2. k9:19 Rm 3:7
  3. l9:19 2Ch 20:6; Jb 9:12; Dn 4:35
  4. m9:20 Jb 33:13
  5. n9:20 Is 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Jr 18:6; 2Tm 2:20
  6. o9:21 Is 64:8; Jr 18:6

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?” On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

NLTNew Living Translation

Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”

No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted his will? On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this”? Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump a vessel that is for honorable use and one that is for ordinary use?

KJV 1900King James Version

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?