Romans 9:20 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? [Isa. 29:16; 45:9.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? [Isa. 29:16; 45:9.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

Aye, but thou, O man, who art *thou* that answerest again to God? Shall the thing formed say to him that has formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

English EASY 2024

But you are only human. God has made you. You have no authority to speak against God like that. A pot cannot speak against the person who made it! It cannot ask him, ‘Why did you make me like this?’

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Don't ask that. You are only human and have no right to question God. A clay jar does not question the one who made it. It does not say, "Why did you make me like this?"

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

English GNT (Good News Translation)

But who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, “Why did you make me like this?”

English God's Word - GW 1995

Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, "Why did you make me like this?"

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

But who are you-- anyone who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"

English KJV 1611

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

English LSB

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? Will the thing molded say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this”?

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Rather, O man, who are you to answer back to God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker,"Why have you created me so?"

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

But who indeed are you — a mere human being — to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “ Why have you made me like this? ”

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

But you are a mere man. 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)

English NIV

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"

English NKJ 1982

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

English NLT

No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "Why have you made me like this?"

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?"

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

But who do you think you are to second-guess God? How could a human being molded out of clay say to the one who molded him, “Why in the world did you make me this way?”

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me thus?”

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

No, don't say that. Who are you to criticize God? Should the thing made say to the one who made it, “Why have you made me like this?“

English Tyndale 1537

But O man what art thou, which disputest with God? shall the work say to the workman: why hast thou made me on this fashion?