15. No, for all the nations of the worldare but a drop in the bucket.They are nothing morethan dust on the scales.He picks up the whole earthas though it were a grain of sand.
16. All the wood in Lebanon’s forestsand all Lebanon’s animals would not be enoughto make a burnt offering worthy of our God.
17. The nations of the world are worth nothing to him.In his eyes they count for less than nothing—mere emptiness and froth.
18. To whom can you compare God?What image can you find to resemble him?
19. Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?
20. Or if people are too poor for that,they might at least choose wood that won’t decayand a skilled craftsmanto carve an image that won’t fall down!
21. Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand?Are you deaf to the words of God—the words he gave before the world began?Are you so ignorant?
22. God sits above the circle of the earth.The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!He spreads out the heavens like a curtainand makes his tent from them.
23. He judges the great people of the worldand brings them all to nothing.
24. They hardly get started, barely taking root,when he blows on them and they wither.The wind carries them off like chaff.
25. “To whom will you compare me?Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
26. Look up into the heavens.Who created all the stars?He brings them out like an army, one after another,calling each by its name.Because of his great power and incomparable strength,not a single one is missing.
27. O Jacob, how can you say the lord does not see your troubles?O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?