5. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,and the whole human race will see it.The Lord himself has promised this.”
6. A voice cries out, “Proclaim a message!”“What message shall I proclaim?” I ask.“Proclaim that all human beings are like grass;they last no longer than wild flowers.
7. Grass withers and flowers fade,when the Lord sends the wind blowing over them.People are no more enduring than grass.
8. Yes, grass withers and flowers fade,but the word of our God endures for ever.”
9. Jerusalem, go up on a high mountainand proclaim the good news!Call out with a loud voice, Zion;announce the good news!Speak out and do not be afraid.Tell the towns of Judahthat their God is coming!
10. The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power,bringing with him the people he has rescued.
11. He will take care of his flock like a shepherd;he will gather the lambs togetherand carry them in his arms;he will gently lead their mothers.
12. Can anyone measure the ocean by handfulsor measure the sky with his hands?Can anyone hold the soil of the earth in a cupor weigh the mountains and hills on scales?
13. Can anyone tell the Lord what to do?Who can teach him or give him advice?
14. With whom does God consultin order to know and understandand to learn how things should be done?
15. To the Lord the nations are nothing,no more than a drop of water;the distant islands are as light as dust.
16. All the animals in the forests of Lebanonare not enough for a sacrifice to our God,and its trees are too few to kindle the fire.
17. The nations are nothing at all to him.
18. To whom can God be compared?How can you describe what he is like?
19. He is not like an idol that workmen make,that metalworkers cover with goldand set in a base of silver.
20. The man who cannot afford silver or goldchooses wood that will not rot.He finds a skilful craftsmanto make an image that won't fall down.
21. Do you not know?Were you not told long ago?Have you not heard how the world began?
22. It was made by the one who sits on his throneabove the earth and beyond the sky;the people below look as tiny as ants.He stretched out the sky like a curtain,like a tent in which to live.