7. I form the light and create darkness,I bring prosperity and create disaster;I, the Lord, do all these things.
8. ‘You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;let the clouds shower it down.Let the earth open wide,let salvation spring up,let righteousness flourish with it;I, the Lord, have created it.
9. ‘Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,those who are nothing but potsherdsamong the potsherds on the ground.Does the clay say to the potter,“What are you making?”Does your work say,“The potter has no hands”?
10. Woe to the one who says to a father,“What have you begotten?”or to a mother,“What have you brought to birth?”
11. ‘This is what the Lord says –the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:concerning things to come,do you question me about my children,or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12. It is I who made the earthand created mankind on it.My own hands stretched out the heavens;I marshalled their starry hosts.
13. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:I will make all his ways straight.He will rebuild my cityand set my exiles free,but not for a price or reward,says the Lord Almighty.’