Add parallel Print Page Options

20 But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?”(A)

Read full chapter

20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(A) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(B) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[a](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9

16 You turn things upside down!
    Shall the potter be regarded as the clay?
Shall the thing made say of its maker,
    “He did not make me,”
or the thing formed say of the one who formed it,
    “He has no understanding”?(A)

Read full chapter

16 You turn things upside down,
    as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!(A)
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed(B) it,
    “You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,(C)
    “You know nothing”?(D)

Read full chapter

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.(A)

Read full chapter

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.(A)
    We are the clay, you are the potter;(B)
    we are all the work of your hand.(C)

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 45.9 Cn: Heb with the potsherds or with the potters
  2. 45.11 Cn: Heb Ask me of things to come

“Woe to those who quarrel(A) with their Maker,(B)
    those who are nothing but potsherds(C)
    among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,(D)
    ‘What are you making?’(E)
Does your work say,
    ‘The potter has no hands’?(F)
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
    ‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
    ‘What have you brought to birth?’

11 “This is what the Lord says—
    the Holy One(G) of Israel, and its Maker:(H)
Concerning things to come,
    do you question me about my children,
    or give me orders about the work of my hands?(I)

Read full chapter

13 Why do you contend against him,
    saying, ‘He will answer none of my[a] words’?(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 33.13 Compare Gk: Heb his

13 Why do you complain to him(A)
    that he responds to no one’s words[a]?(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions

and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 6.5 Other ancient authorities add Withdraw yourself from such people

and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth(A) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Read full chapter

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?[a]
    Anyone who argues with God must respond.”(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 40.2 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(A) correct him?(B)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(C)

Read full chapter

Have windy words no limit?
    Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?(A)

Read full chapter

Will your long-winded speeches never end?(A)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?(B)

Read full chapter

20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2.20 Other ancient authorities read dead or empty

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead

15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 20.15 Gk is your eye evil because I am good?

15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’(A)

Read full chapter

“I know that you can do all things
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.(A)
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me that I did not know.(B)
‘Hear, and I will speak;
    I will question you, and you declare to me.’(C)
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;(D)
therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.”(E)

Read full chapter

“I know that you can do all things;(A)
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.(B)
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’(C)
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.(D)

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’(E)
My ears had heard of you(F)
    but now my eyes have seen you.(G)
Therefore I despise myself(H)
    and repent(I) in dust and ashes.”(J)

Read full chapter

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?(A)
Gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you, and you shall declare to me.(B)

Read full chapter

“Who is this that obscures my plans(A)
    with words without knowledge?(B)
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(C)

Read full chapter

23 Who has prescribed for him his way,
    or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?(A)

Read full chapter

23 Who has prescribed his ways(A) for him,(B)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(C)

Read full chapter