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.

窑匠难道没有权柄从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿，又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗？

难道陶匠没有权从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿，又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗？

难道陶匠没有权从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿，又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗？

陶匠难道不可以从一团泥中拿一部分造贵重的器皿，又拿一部分造平凡的器皿吗？

陶匠难道没有权用同一团的泥，又做贵重的、又做卑贱的器皿吗？

难道陶匠没有权柄从同一团泥中，既造出贵重的器皿，又造出卑贱的器皿吗？

窰匠難道沒有權柄從一團泥裏拿一塊做成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿嗎？

難道陶匠沒有權從一團泥裏拿一塊做成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿嗎？

難道陶匠沒有權從一團泥裏拿一塊做成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿嗎？

陶匠難道不可以從一團泥中拿一部分造貴重的器皿，又拿一部分造平凡的器皿嗎？

陶匠難道沒有權用同一團的泥，又做貴重的、又做卑賤的器皿嗎？

窰匠對泥土難道沒有權柄從同一團泥作器皿，有的作成貴重的，有的作成下賤的麼？

難道陶匠沒有權柄從同一團泥中，既造出貴重的器皿，又造出卑賤的器皿嗎？

陶人豈無權於泥、由一團而造器、一為尊、一為卑乎、

泥豈非權在陶人、同一撮土而造之、或為器之貴、或為器之賤乎、

陶人豈無權於泥、由一團泥造一貴用之器、一賤用之器乎、

抑陶人於泥無自由處置之權、而不能於同一撮土中、製成貴賤不同之器耶？

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use?

Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?

Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter. Your hands made all of us.

In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes.Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.

But the Lord said to Ananias,“ Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel.

The Lord works everything out to the proper end. Even those who do wrong were made for a day of trouble.

Here is what happened. Rebekah’s twins had not even been born. They hadn’t done anything good or bad yet. So they show that God’s purpose is based firmly on his free choice.

So I went down to the potter’s house. I saw him working at his wheel.His hands were shaping a pot out of clay. But he saw that something was wrong with it. So he formed it into another pot. He shaped it in the way that seemed best to him.Then the Lord’ s message came to me.“ People of Israel, I can do with you just as this potter does,” announces the Lord.“ The clay is in the potter’s hand. And you are in my hand, people of Israel.

What if God chose to show his great anger? What if he chose to make his power known? But he put up with the people he was angry with. They were made to be destroyed.What if he put up with them to show the riches of his glory to other people? Those other people are the ones he shows his mercy to. He made them to receive his glory.

So God does what he wants to do. He shows mercy to one person and makes another stubborn.

This man Jehoiachin is like a broken pot. Everyone hates him. No one wants him. Why will he and his children be thrown out of this land? Why will they be sent to a land they don’t know about?

So the people of Israel are swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like something no one wants.