Isaiah 40:12-28

12Nobody has done what God has done! He measured all the water of the seas in one hand. He used his hand to measure the whole sky. He carefully weighed the soil of the earth. He carefully weighed the mountains in his scales, and the hills too.

13Nobody understands the mind of the Lord. Nobody can be his advisor, to tell him what he should do.

14He does not ask anyone to be his guide. Nobody can teach him the proper way to do things. Nobody can give him knowledge. Nobody can teach him how to understand things.

15The Lord looks at the nations as if they are a little bit of water in a bucket. They are like dust on his scales. He weighs the islands as he would weigh dust.

16All the trees from Lebanon's forests are not enough to make a fire for his altar. All its animals are not enough to offer to him as burnt offerings.

17All the nations in the world are not important to the Lord. He sees them as empty and useless.

18You cannot find anyone else who is like God. There is no image that you can make to be like him.

19A worker may use special skill to make an idol. Another worker may cover it with gold. He may use silver chains to make it beautiful.

20A poor person may choose special wood for his idol. He chooses wood that will not quickly become spoiled. Then he finds a worker to make an idol for him. He makes it so that it will not fall over!

21You must surely know what is true! You must have heard about it. Somebody must have told you these things from the beginning. You should have understood it all since the time that God made the earth.

22God sits high above on his throne where the earth and the sky meet. The people on the earth seem like grasshoppers to him. He hangs out the sky like a curtain. He makes it like a tent for him to live in.

23He takes away the power of kings. He causes the rulers of the world to be useless.

24They are like plants that soon disappear. Somebody plants them in the ground. But while their roots are still growing into the soil, God blows on them and they become dry. Then the wind carries them away like straw.

25The Holy God says, ‘You cannot find anyone who is like me. Nobody is the same as me.’

26Look up at the sky! Think about the one who made all the stars. God is the one who brought together that great army! He knows how many they are and he knows each of their names! When he calls them, each one is there, because he is so strong and powerful.

27You Israelites, descendants of Jacob, say, ‘The Lord does not know about our troubles. He does not bring justice to us.’ Why do you say that?

28You must surely know what is true! You must have heard about it. The Lord is the God who lives for ever. He made the whole earth, near and far. He never becomes tired or weak. He knows and he understands everything.