Isaiah 45:9-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 Woe to those who strive with their Maker,
earthen vessels with the potter![a]
Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”?
or “Your work has no handles”?(A)
10 Woe to anyone who says to a father, “What are you fathering?”
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[b] about my children
or command me concerning the work of my hands?(B)
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.(C)
13 I have aroused Cyrus[c] in righteousness,
and I will make all his paths straight;
he shall build my city
and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,
says the Lord of hosts.(D)
Isaiah 45:9-13
International Standard Version
9 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his makers,[a]
a mere potsherd with the potsherds of the[b] earth!
Woe to the one who says[c] to the one forming him,
‘What are you making?’
or ‘Your work has no human[d] hands?’!
10 Woe to the[e] one who says to his father,
‘What are you begetting?’
or to a woman, ‘To what are you giving birth?’!”
11 This is what the Lord[f] says,
the Creator of the signs:
“Question me about my children,[g]
or give me orders about the work of my hands.
12 I myself made the earth
and personally created humankind upon it.
My own hands stretched out the skies;
I marshaled all their starry hosts.”
God will Bless Cyrus
13 “I have aroused him[h] in righteousness,
and I’ll make all his pathways smooth.
It is he who will rebuild my city
and set my exiles free,
but not for a price nor reward, ”
says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads maker
- Isaiah 45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks the
- Isaiah 45:9 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read Will clay say
- Isaiah 45:9 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack human
- Isaiah 45:10 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks the
- Isaiah 45:11 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX 1QIsaa corrector reads the Lord, the Holy One of Israel
- Isaiah 45:11 So 1QIsaa LXX; Lit. my sons and daughters; MT reads says, and its creator: Question me of things to come about my children
- Isaiah 45:13 I.e. Cyrus, king of Persia
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