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Isaiah 45:9–12

9 “Woe to him who strives with qhis Maker!

Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!

rShall 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:

s“Ask Me of things to come concerning tMy sons;

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

12 vI have made the earth,

And wcreated man on it.

I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,

And xall their host I have commanded.

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Isaiah 45:9–12 — The New International Version (NIV)

“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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — English Standard Version (ESV)

“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’?

10 Woe to him 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 the one who formed him:

“Ask me of things to come;

will you command me concerning my children and 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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — New Living Translation (NLT)

“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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — New Century Version (NCV)

“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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — American Standard Version (ASV)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

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⸥. 

Isaiah 45:9–12 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

“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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

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.

Isaiah 45:9–12 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

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.


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