On the contrary,whoare you, Oman,who answers backto God?The thing moldedwill not sayto the molder,"Whydid you makeme like this,"will it?
But the kingsaid,"Whathave I to do with you, O sonsof Zeruiah?Ifhe curses,and ifthe LORDhas toldhim, 'CurseDavid,'then whoshall say,'Whyhave you doneso?'"
"Is there [no] limitto windywords?Orwhatplaguesyou that you answer?
"Whydo you complainagainstHim That He does not givean accountof allHis doings?
"Whohas appointedHim His way,And whohas said,You have donewrong'?
"Will the faultfindercontendwith the Almighty?Let him who reprovesGodanswerit."
"OnceI have spoken,and I will not answer;Even twice,and I will addnothingmore."
"Will you reallyannulMy judgment?Will you condemnMe that you may be justified?
"For [He is] not a manas I am that I may answerHim, That we may goto courttogether.
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.
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"?
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.
"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?'
He has toldyou, O man,whatis good;And whatdoes the LORDrequireof you But to dojustice,to lovekindness,And to walkhumblywith your God?
Is it not lawfulfor me to dowhatI wishwith whatis my own?Oris your eyeenviousbecauseI amgenerous?'
But He saidto him, "Man,whoappointedMe a judgeorarbitratoroveryou?"
Whoare you to judgethe servantof another?To his ownmasterhe standsorfalls;and he will stand,for the Lordis ableto make him stand.
Thereforeyou haveno excuse,everyoneof you who passesjudgment,for in that whichyou judgeanother,you condemnyourself;for you who judgepracticethe same things.
But do you supposethis,Oman,when you pass judgmenton thosewho practicesuch thingsand dothe same[yourself], that you will escapethe judgmentof God?
Ordoes not the potterhavea rightover the clay,to makefrom the samelumponevesselfor honorable useand anotherfor common use?
WhatifGod,although willingto demonstrateHis wrathand to makeHis powerknown,enduredwith muchpatiencevesselsof wrathpreparedfor destruction?
Whereis the wise man?Whereis the scribe?Whereis the debaterof thisage?Has not Godmade foolishthe wisdomof the world?
For howdo you know,O wife,whetheryou will saveyour husband?Orhowdo you know,O husband,whetheryou will saveyour wife?
and constant frictionbetween menof depravedmindand deprivedof the truth,who supposethat godlinessis a means of gain.
Nowin a largehousethere are not onlygoldand silvervessels,but alsovessels of woodand of earthenware,and someto honorand someto dishonor.
[Urge] bondslavesto be subjectto their ownmastersin everything,to be well-pleasing,not argumentative,
But are you willingto recognize,you foolishfellow,that faithwithoutworksis useless?
