“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.

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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.

(A)“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
    a pot among earthen pots!
(B)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 (C)the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
(D)“Ask me of things to come;
    will you command me (E)concerning my children and (F)the work of my hands?[a]
12 (G)I made the earth
    and created man on it;
it was my hands (H)that stretched out the heavens,
    and (I)I commanded all their host.
13 (J)I have stirred him up in righteousness,
    (K)and I will make all his ways level;
(L)he shall build my city
    (M)and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
    says the Lord of hosts.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:11 A slight emendation yields will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?