But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’” Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’?
“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’
Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.