16. All the trees in Lebanon are not enough for the altar fires,and all the animals in Lebanon are not enough for burnt offerings.
17. Compared to the Lord all the nations are worth nothing;to him they are less than nothing.
18. Can you compare God to anything?Can you compare him to an image of anything?
19. An idol is formed by a craftsman,and a goldsmith covers it with goldand makes silver chains for it.
20. A poor person cannot buy those expensive statues,so he finds a tree that will not rot.Then he finds a skilled craftsmanto make it into an idol that will not fall over.
21. Surely you know. Surely you have heard.Surely from the beginning someone told you.Surely you understand how the earth was created.
22. God sits on his throne above the circle of the earth,and compared to him, people are like grasshoppers.He stretches out the skies like a piece of clothand spreads them out like a tent to sit under.
23. He makes rulers unimportantand the judges of this world worth nothing.
24. They are like plants that are placed in the ground,like seeds that are planted.As soon as they begin to grow strong,he blows on them and they die,and the wind blows them away like chaff.
25. God, the Holy One, says, “Can you compare me to anyone?Is anyone equal to me?”
26. Look up to the skies.Who created all these stars?He leads out the army of heaven one by oneand calls all the stars by name.Because he is strong and powerful,not one of them is missing.
27. People of Jacob, why do you complain?People of Israel, why do you say,“The Lord does not see what happens to me;he does not care if I am treated fairly”?
28. Surely you know.Surely you have heard.The Lord is the God who lives forever,who created all the world.He does not become tired or need to rest.No one can understand how great his wisdom is.
29. He gives strength to those who are tiredand more power to those who are weak.
30. Even children become tired and need to rest,and young people trip and fall.