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

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

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