13 For he said:

I have done this by my own strength
and wisdom, for I am clever.
I abolished the borders of nations
and plundered their treasures;
like a mighty warrior, I subjugated the inhabitants.[a]
14 My hand has reached out, as if into a nest,
to seize the wealth of the nations.
Like one gathering abandoned eggs,
I gathered the whole earth.
No wing fluttered;
no beak opened or chirped.

15 Does an ax exalt itself
above the one who chops with it?
Does a saw magnify itself
above the one who saws with it?
It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts[b] it!
It would be like a rod lifting a man who isn’t wood!

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 10:13 Or I brought down their kings
  2. Isaiah 10:15 Some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read wave he who lifts

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,

13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

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