Good News Translation
He is a human being who was himself formed from earth only a short while earlier, and after a little while, when he must return the soul that was lent to him, he will go back to the same earth. He is a human being, but he wastes his labor shaping a useless god out of the same clay that he uses to make pots.

New Revised Standard Version
With misspent toil, these workers form a futile god from the same clay— these mortals who were made of earth a short time before and after a little while go to the earth from which all mortals are taken, when the time comes to return the souls that were borrowed.

Contemporary English Version
Then--wasting their energy--these potters form a useless idol from the same clay. And not long ago, these potters themselves were made from the soil and will soon turn back into soil, just like all other humans, when it is time to return our borrowed souls.

New American Bible
With misspent toil he molds a meaningless god from the selfsame clay, though he himself shortly before was made from the earth, And is soon to go whence he was taken, when the life that was lent him is demanded back.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.

And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.

Wisdom 15:6
The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them.

Wisdom 15:7
The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.

Wisdom 15:9
But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.

Wisdom 15:10
For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life more base than clay: