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12 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 Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
    or as his counsellor has instructed him?
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.
16 Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
    nor are its animals enough for a burnt-offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him;
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

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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 speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God’?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

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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)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?(B)
The Lord is the everlasting(C) God,
    the Creator(D) of the ends of the earth.(E)
He will not grow tired or weary,(F)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.(G)
29 He gives strength(H) to the weary(I)
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men(J) stumble and fall;(K)
31 but those who hope(L) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.(M)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(N)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.(O)

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