9. “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’?
10. Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”
11. 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?
12. I made the earthand created man on it;it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,and I commanded all their host.
13. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free,not for price or reward,”says the Lord of hosts.
14. Thus says the Lord: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,and the Sabeans, men of stature,shall come over to you and be yours;they shall follow you;they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.They will plead with you, saying:‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,no god besides him.’”
15. Truly, you are a God who hides himself,O God of Israel, the Savior.
16. All of them are put to shame and confounded;the makers of idols go in confusion together.
17. But Israel is saved by the Lordwith everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confoundedto all eternity.
18. For thus says the Lord,who created the heavens(he is God!),who formed the earth and made it(he established it;he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!):“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19. I did not speak in secret,in a land of darkness;I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’I the Lord speak the truth;I declare what is right.
20. “Assemble yourselves and come;draw near together,you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledgewho carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a godthat cannot save.