Does an ax claim to be more important than the person who swings it? Does a saw brag that it is better than the one who uses it? That would be like a stick swinging the person who picks it up! It would be like a war club waving the one who carries it!

斧岂可向用斧砍木的自夸呢？锯岂可向用锯的自大呢？好比棍抡起那举棍的，好比杖举起那非木的人。

斧岂可向用斧砍伐的自夸呢？锯岂可向拉锯的自大呢？这好比棍挥动那举棍的，好比杖举起那不是木头的人。

斧岂可向用斧砍伐的自夸呢？锯岂可向拉锯的自大呢？这好比棍挥动那举棍的，好比杖举起那不是木头的人。

然而，斧头怎能向舞动它的人自夸呢？锯子怎能向用锯的人炫耀呢？难道棍子可以挥动举它的人吗？手杖可以举起它的主人吗？

斧头怎可以向用斧头砍木的人自夸呢？锯子怎可以向拉锯的人自大呢？好比棍能挥动那举起棍的，又好比杖举起那不是木头的。

斧头怎能向用斧伐木的人自夸呢？锯子怎能向拉锯的人自大呢？这简直是说，棍能挥动那举棍的，木杖能举起那本不是木头的人！

斧豈可向用斧砍木的自誇呢？鋸豈可向用鋸的自大呢？好比棍掄起那舉棍的，好比杖舉起那非木的人。

斧豈可向用斧砍伐的自誇呢？鋸豈可向拉鋸的自大呢？這好比棍揮動那舉棍的，好比杖舉起那不是木頭的人。

斧豈可向用斧砍伐的自誇呢？鋸豈可向拉鋸的自大呢？這好比棍揮動那舉棍的，好比杖舉起那不是木頭的人。

然而，斧頭怎能向舞動它的人自誇呢？鋸子怎能向用鋸的人炫耀呢？難道棍子可以揮動舉它的人嗎？手杖可以舉起它的主人嗎？

斧頭怎可以向用斧頭砍木的人自誇呢？鋸子怎可以向拉鋸的人自大呢？好比棍能揮動那舉起棍的，又好比杖舉起那不是木頭的。

鑿子哪能向用鑿子的人炫耀自己？鋸子哪能向拉動鋸子的自大？好似棍子掄起那舉起棍子的，好似手杖舉起那不是木頭的呢？

斧頭怎能向用斧伐木的人自誇呢？鋸子怎能向拉鋸的人自大呢？這簡直是說，棍能揮動那舉棍的，杖能舉起那本不是木頭的人！

夫斧豈對用斧而斫者自伐乎、鋸豈對運鋸者自矜乎、是猶梃運彼舉之者、杖舉夫非木者、

主曰、人以斧鋸、斬伐林木、斧鋸得自以為功乎、以杖箠扑人、杖箠能自運動、而自視為非木乎、

斧豈可向用斧伐木者自誇乎、鋸豈可向用鋸者自矜乎、梃豈能舉舉梃者乎、木杖豈能舉非木之人乎、

Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!

Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!

But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself?

Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the ones who lift it! It would be like a staff lifting the one who isn’t wood!

Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting the one who is not wood.

Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!

Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood.

Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts it! It would be like a rod lifting a man who isn’t wood!

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.

Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it, or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it? As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it, or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!

Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

The Lord says,“ How terrible it will be for the people of Assyria! They are the war club that carries out my anger.

But you are a mere human being. So who are you to talk back to God? Scripture says,“ Can what is made say to the one who made it,‘ Why did you make me like this?’ ”( Isaiah 29:16; 45:9)Isn’t the potter free to make different kinds of pots out of the same lump of clay? Some are for special purposes. Others are for ordinary use.

How terrible it will be for anyone who argues with their Maker! They are like a broken piece of pottery lying on the ground. Does clay say to a potter,“ What are you making?” Does a pot say,“ The potter doesn’t have any skill”?

“ Babylon, you are my war club. You are my weapon for battle. I use you to destroy nations. I use you to wipe out kingdoms.I use you to destroy horses and their riders. I use you to destroy chariots and their drivers.I use you to destroy men and women. I use you to destroy old people and young people. I use you to destroy young men and young women.I use you to destroy shepherds and their flocks. I use you to destroy farmers and their oxen. I use you to destroy governors and officials.

They turn everything upside down. How silly they are to think that potters are like the clay they work with! Can what is made say to the one who made it,“ You didn’t make me”? Can the pot say to the potter,“ You don’t know anything”?

Lord, rise up. Oppose them and bring them down. With your sword, save me from those evil people.Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies. May their children’s stomachs be filled with it. And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.

Then will you say,‘ I am a god’? Will you say that to those who kill you? You will be only a human being to those who kill you. You will not be a god to them.