“Woe to the one who (A)quarrels with [a]his Maker—
A piece of pottery [b]among the other earthenware pottery pieces!
Will the (B)clay say to the [c]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 fathering?’
Or to a woman, ‘To what are you [d]giving birth?’”

11 This is what the (C)Lord says, the Holy One of Israel and [e]his (D)Maker:

[f](E)Ask Me about the things to come [g]concerning My (F)sons,
And you shall commit to Me (G)the work of My hands.
12 It is I who (H)made the earth, and created mankind upon it.
I (I)stretched out the heavens with My hands,
And I [h]ordained (J)all their [i]lights.
13 I have stirred him in (K)righteousness,
And I will (L)make all his ways smooth.
He will (M)build My city and let My exiles go (N)free,
Without any payment or reward,” says the Lord of armies.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:9 Lit He who formed him
  2. Isaiah 45:9 Lit with
  3. Isaiah 45:9 Lit he who formed him
  4. Isaiah 45:10 Lit in labor pains with
  5. Isaiah 45:11 Lit He who formed him
  6. Isaiah 45:11 Or Will you ask
  7. Isaiah 45:11 Or upon
  8. Isaiah 45:12 Or commanded
  9. Isaiah 45:12 Lit host; i.e., sun, stars, etc.

Potter and clay

Doom to the one who argues with the potter,[a]
    as if he were just another clay pot!
Does the clay say to the potter, “What are you making?”
    or “Your work has no handles”?
10 Doom to one who says to a father,
    “What have you fathered?”
    and to a woman,
    “With what are you in labor?”
11 The Lord, the holy one of Israel and its maker,[b] says:
Are you questioning me[c] about my own children?
    Are you telling me what to do with the work of my hands?
12 I myself made the earth,
    and created humans upon it.
    My own hands stretched out the heavens.
    I commanded all their forces.
13 I have a right to awaken Cyrus;
    I will smooth all his paths.
He will build my city
    and set my exiles free,
    not for a price and not for a bribe,
    says the Lord of heavenly forces.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:9 Or maker
  2. Isaiah 45:11 Or potter
  3. Isaiah 45:11 Or about future things ask me