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12 Who has measured the waters of the sea[a] in the hollow of his hand
    and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
    and weighed the mountains in scales
    and the hills in a balance?(A)
13 Who has directed the spirit of the Lord
    or as his counselor has instructed him?(B)
14 Whom did he consult for his enlightenment,
    and who taught him the path of justice?
[[Who taught him knowledge
    and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket
    and are accounted as dust on the scales;
    see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.(C)
16 Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
    nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.]][b]
17 All the nations are as nothing before him;
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 40.12 Q ms: MT lacks of the sea
  2. 40.14–16 Q ms lacks Who taught him . . . burnt offering

12 Who has measured the waters(A) in the hollow of his hand,(B)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?(C)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?(D)
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[a](E) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?(F)
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,(G)
    or showed him the path of understanding?(H)

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;(I)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.(J)
16 Lebanon(K) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals(L) enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations(M) are as nothing;(N)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:13 Or mind

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and assert, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?(A)

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27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?(A)

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