14. Did the Lord ask anyoneto teach him wisdomand justice?Who gave him knowledgeand understanding?
15. To the Lord, all nationsare merely a drop in a bucketor dust on balance scales;all the islandsare but a handful of sand.
16. The cattleon Lebanon's mountainswould not be enough to offeras a sacrifice to God,and the trees would notbe enough for the fire.
17. God thinks of the nationsas far less than nothing.
18. Who compares with God?Is anything like him?
19. Is an idol at all like God?It is made of bronzewith a thin layer of gold,and decorated with silver.
20. Or special wood may be chosenbecause it doesn't rot—then skilled handstake care to make an idolthat won't fall on its face.
21. Don't you know?Haven't you heard?Isn't it clear that Godcreated the world?
22. God is the one who rulesthe whole earth,and we who live hereare merely insects.He spread out the heavenslike a curtain or an open tent.
23. God brings down rulersand turns them into nothing.
24. They are like flowersfreshly sprung upand starting to grow.But when God blows on them,they wilt and are carried offlike straw in a storm.