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18 (A)To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare with Him?
19 As for the (B)graven images, a craftsman casts it,
A goldsmith (C)plates it with gold,
And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.
20 He who is too impoverished to make such a contribution
Chooses a (D)tree that does not rot;
He seeks out for himself a wise craftsman
To [a]prepare a graven image that (E)will not be shaken.

21 (F)Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood (G)from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who [b]inhabits above the [c](H)circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like (I)grasshoppers;
It is He who (J)stretches out the heavens like a (K)curtain
And spreads them out like a (L)tent to inhabit.
23 It is He who reduces (M)rulers to nothing,
Who (N)makes the [d]judges of the earth utterly formless.
24 [e]Scarcely have they been planted;
[f]Scarcely have they been sown;
[g]Scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
But He merely blows on them, and they [h]wither,
And the (O)storm carries them away like stubble.
25 (P)To whom then will you liken Me
That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.
26 (Q)Lift up your eyes on high
And see (R)who has created these stars,
The (S)One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the (T)greatness of His vigor and the [i]strength of His power,
(U)Not one of them is missing.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:20 Or set up
  2. Isaiah 40:22 Or is enthroned
  3. Isaiah 40:22 Or vault
  4. Isaiah 40:23 Or leaders
  5. Isaiah 40:24 Or Not even
  6. Isaiah 40:24 Or Not even
  7. Isaiah 40:24 Or Not even
  8. Isaiah 40:24 Or dry up, cf. 42:15; Ps 90:5-6
  9. Isaiah 40:26 As in DSS and ancient versions; M.T. strong

18 To whom then will you (A)liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 (B)The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such [a]a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
(C)To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

21 (D)Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who (E)stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a (F)tent to dwell in.
23 He [b]brings the (G)princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.

24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

25 “To(H) whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
(I)He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:20 an offering
  2. Isaiah 40:23 reduces