Isaiah 40:10-17

The Message

^9-11Climb a high mountain, Zion.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
    Speak loud and clear. Don’t be timid!
Tell the cities of Judah,
    “Look! Your God!”
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
    ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
    and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
    gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
    leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

The Creator of All You Can See or Imagine

^12-17Who has scooped up the ocean
    in his two hands,
    or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger,
Who has put all the earth’s dirt in one of his baskets,
    weighed each mountain and hill?
Who could ever have told God what to do
    or taught him his business?
What expert would he have gone to for advice,
    what school would he attend to learn justice?
What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows,
    showed him how things work?
Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket,
    a mere smudge on a window.
Watch him sweep up the islands
    like so much dust off the floor!
There aren’t enough trees in Lebanon
    nor enough animals in those vast forests
    to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship.
All the nations add up to simply nothing before him—
    less than nothing is more like it. A minus.

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Isaiah 40:10-17

New International Version

¹⁰See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(A) with power,^(B)
    and he rules^(C) with a mighty arm.^(D)
See, his reward^(E) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(F)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms^(G)
and carries them close to his heart;^(H)
    he gently leads^(I) those that have young.^(J)

¹²Who has measured the waters^(K) in the hollow of his hand,^(L)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(M)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?^(N)
¹³Who can fathom the Spirit^[a]^(O) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(P)
¹⁴Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(Q)
    or showed him the path of understanding?^(R)

¹⁵Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(S)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(T)
¹⁶Lebanon^(U) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals^(V) enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations^(W) are as nothing;^(X)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.^(Y)