You also made a reservoir between the two walls

For the waters of the [fn]Old Pool,

But you did not look to its Maker,

Nor did you recognize Him who planned it long ago.

When its branches are dry, they are broken off;

The women come and [fn]make a fire with them.

For they are not a people of understanding,

Therefore He who made them will not have compassion on them,

And He who created them will not be gracious to them.

You turn things upside down [with your perversity]!

Shall the potter be considered equal with the clay,

That the thing that is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”;

Or the thing that is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar,

Crushed so savagely

that there cannot be found among its pieces a potsherd [large enough]

To take [coals of] fire from a fireplace,

Or to scoop water from a cistern.”

“Have you not heard [says the God of Israel]

That I did it long ago,

That I planned it in ancient times?

Now I have brought it to pass,

That you [king of Assyria] would [be My instrument to] turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

“I have stirred up and put into action [fn]one from the north [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great], and he has come;

From the rising of the sun he will call on My Name [in prayer].

And he will trample on [the Babylonian] officials as on mortar,

Even as a potter treads clay.”

But now, this is what the LORD, your Creator says, O Jacob,

And He who formed you, O Israel,

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity];

I have called you by name; you are Mine!

This is what the LORD who made you

And formed you from the womb, who will help you says,

‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;

And Jeshurun (Israel, the upright one) whom I have chosen.

The One forming light and creating darkness,

Causing peace and creating disaster;

I am the LORD who does all these things.

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, be assured I will do it.

And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,

To bring Jacob back to Him and that Israel might be gathered to Him,

—For I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,

And My God is My strength—

“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;

And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.

This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,

And this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD.

Yet, O LORD, You are our Father;

We are the clay, and You our Potter,

And we all are the work of Your hand.