¹⁴ Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(A)
    or showed him the path of understanding?^(B)

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

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God?^(J)
    To what image^(K) will you liken him?
¹⁹ As for an idol,^(L) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(M) overlays it with gold^(N)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(O) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(P) that will not topple.^(Q)

²¹ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(R)
Has it not been told^(S) you from the beginning?^(T)
    Have you not understood^(U) since the earth was founded?^(V)