Isaiah 40:9–20

9 Zion, herald of good news,

go up on a high mountain.d

Jerusalem, herald of good news,e

raise your voice loudly.

Raise it, do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”f

10 See, the Lord God comes with strength,

and his power establishes his rule.g

His wages are with him,h

and his reward accompanies him.

11 He protects his flock like a shepherd;i

he gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them in the fold of his garment.

He gently leads those that are nursing.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand

or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?j

Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure

or weighed the mountains on a balance

and the hills on the scales?

13 Who has directedE the Spirit of the Lord,

or who gave him counsel?k

14 Who did he consult?

Who gave him understandingl

and taught him the paths of justice?

Who taught him knowledge

and showed him the way of understanding?

15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are considered as a speck of dust on the scales;

he lifts up the islands like fine dust.

16 Lebanon’s cedars are not enough for fuel,

or its animals enough for a burnt offering.m

17 All the nations are as nothing before him;

they are considered by him

as empty nothingness.n

18 With whom will you compare God?

What likeness will you set up for comparison with him?o

19 An idol?—something that a smelter casts

and a metalworker plates with gold

and makes silver chains for?p

20 A poor person contributes wood for a pedestal

that will not rot.A

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not fall over.q