Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed {it}, Why hast thou made me thus? {repliest...: or, answerest again, or, disputest with God?}

But now, O LORD, thou {art} our father; we {are} the clay, and thou our potter; and we all {are} the work of thy hand.

Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? {or} shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake {itself} against them that lift it up, {or} as if the staff should lift up {itself, as if it were} no wood. {the rod...: or, a rod should shake them that lift it up} {itself, as if...: or, that which is not wood}

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay {is} in the potter's hand, so {are} ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

{There is} no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, {saying},

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.

And in very deed for this {cause} have I raised thee up, for to shew {in} thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. {raised...: Heb. made thee stand}

Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make {it}. {of clay...: or, was marred, as clay in the hand of the potter} {made it...: Heb. returned and made, etc}

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay {is} in the potter's hand, so {are} ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

But now, O LORD, thou {art} our father; we {are} the clay, and thou our potter; and we all {are} the work of thy hand.

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed {it}, Why hast thou made me thus? {repliest...: or, answerest again, or, disputest with God?}

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

And all the inhabitants of the earth {are} reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and {among} the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? {or} shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake {itself} against them that lift it up, {or} as if the staff should lift up {itself, as if it were} no wood. {the rod...: or, a rod should shake them that lift it up} {itself, as if...: or, that which is not wood}

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it {is} man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct {him}? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? {hinder...: Heb. turn him away?}

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man {pleadeth} for his neighbour! {neighbour: or, friend}

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. {shew thyself unsavoury: or, wrestle}

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. {he giveth...: Heb. he answereth not}

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: {it is} hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

For {he is} not a man, as I {am, that} I should answer him, {and} we should come together in judgment.

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

{Should it be} according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. {according...: Heb. from with thee?}

And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.

Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken {it}, and will do {it}.

Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Shall {any} teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

And, behold, God himself {is} with us for {our} captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?