Isaiah 40:12-17

English Standard Version

¹²^(A)Who has measured the waters 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?
¹³^(B)Who has measured^[a] the Spirit of the Lord,
    or what man shows him his counsel?
¹⁴Whom did he consult,
    and who made him understand?
^(C)Who taught him the path of justice,
    and taught him knowledge,
    and showed him the way of understanding?
¹⁵Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
    and are accounted ^(D)as the dust on the scales;
    behold, he takes up ^(E)the coastlands like fine dust.
¹⁶Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
    nor are ^(F)its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
¹⁷^(G)All the nations are as nothing before him,
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 40:13 Or has directed

Isaiah 40:12-17

New International Version

¹²Who 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)
¹³Who can fathom the Spirit^[a]^(E) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(F)
¹⁴Whom 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)

¹⁵Surely 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)
¹⁶Lebanon^(K) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals^(L) enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations^(M) are as nothing;^(N)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.^(O)