13 Because he said, By the power of mine own hand have I done it, and by my wisdom, because I am wise: therefore I have removed the borders of the people, and have spoiled their treasures, and have pulled down the inhabitants like a valiant man.

14 And mine hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people, and as one that gathereth eggs that are left, so have I gathered all the earth: and there was none to move the wing or to open the mouth, or to whisper.

15 Shall the [a]axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw exalt itself against him that moveth it? as if the rod should lift up itself against him that taketh it up, or the staff should exalt itself as it were no wood.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 10:15 Here we see that no creature is able to do anything, but as God appointeth him, and that they are all but his instruments to do his work, though the intentions be divers, as verse 6.

13 For he says:

“‘By the strength of my hand(A) I have done this,(B)
    and by my wisdom, because I have understanding.
I removed the boundaries of nations,
    I plundered their treasures;(C)
    like a mighty one I subdued[a] their kings.(D)
14 As one reaches into a nest,(E)
    so my hand reached for the wealth(F) of the nations;
as people gather abandoned eggs,
    so I gathered all the countries;(G)
not one flapped a wing,
    or opened its mouth to chirp.(H)’”

15 Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it,
    or the saw boast against the one who uses it?(I)
As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up,
    or a club(J) brandish the one who is not wood!

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 10:13 Or treasures; / I subdued the mighty,