"Woeto [the one] who quarrelswith his Maker--An earthenwarevesselamongthe vesselsof earth!Will the claysayto the potter,'Whatare you doing?'Or the thingyou are making[say], 'He hasnohands'?
But now,O LORD,You are our Father,We are the clay,and You our potter;And allof us are the workof Your hand.
"CanI not, O houseof Israel,dealwith you as thispotter[does]?" declaresthe LORD."Behold,like the clayin the potter'shand,soare you in My hand,O houseof Israel.
You turn[things] around!Shall the potterbe consideredas equal with the clay,That whatis madewould sayto its maker,"He did not makeme"; Or whatis formedsayto him who formedit, "He has nounderstanding"?
Is the axeto boastitself overthe one who chopswith it? Is the sawto exaltitself overthe one who wieldsit? [That would be] like a clubwieldingthose who liftit, [Or] like a rodlifting[him who] is not wood.
Thereis nowisdomand nounderstandingAnd nocounselagainstthe LORD.
"I seta snarefor you and you were alsocaught,O Babylon,While you yourselfwere not aware;You have been foundand alsoseizedBecauseyou have engagedin conflictwith the LORD."
Ordo we provokethe Lordto jealousy?We are not strongerthan He, are we?
"Were He to snatchaway,whocould restrainHim? Whocould sayto Him, 'Whatare You doing?'
"Whydo you complainagainstHim That He does not givean accountof allHis doings?
"Will the faultfindercontendwith the Almighty?Let him who reprovesGodanswerit."
Whateverexistshas alreadybeen named,and it is knownwhatmanis; for he cannotdisputewith him whois strongerthanhe is.
"Woeto him who saysto a father,'Whatare you begetting?'Or to a woman,'To whatare you givingbirth?'"
"And concerningJehoiakimkingof Judahyou shall say,'Thussaysthe LORD,"You have burnedthisscroll,saying,Whyhave you writtenon it that the kingof Babylonwill certainlycomeand destroythisland,and will make manand beastto ceasefrom it?'"
"Allthe inhabitantsof the earthare accountedas nothing,But He doesaccordingto His willin the hostof heavenAnd [among] the inhabitantsof earth;And noone can wardoffHis handOr sayto Him, 'Whathave You done?'
"Wisein heartand mightyin strength,Whohas defiedHim withoutharm?
Remembernow,that You have mademe as clay;And would You turnme into dustagain?
Thereis noonewho callson Your name,Who arouseshimself to takeholdof You; For You have hiddenYour facefrom us And have deliveredus into the powerof our iniquities.
