Isaiah 40:13-20

Other Translations of Isaiah 40:13-20

King James Version

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 instructed...: Heb. made him understand 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.

¹⁸ To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? ¹⁹ The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. ²⁰ He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

English Standard Version

¹³ Who has measuredOr has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? ¹⁴ Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? ¹⁵ Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. ¹⁶ Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts 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.

¹⁸ To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? ¹⁹ An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. ²⁰ He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses woodOr He chooses valuable wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.

The Message

¹³ Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business? ¹⁴ What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice? What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work? ¹⁵ Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket, a mere smudge on a window. Watch him sweep up the islands like so much dust off the floor! ¹⁶ There aren't enough trees in Lebanon nor enough animals in those vast forests to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship. ¹⁷ All the nations add up to simply nothing before him - less than nothing is more like it. A minus.

¹⁸ So who even comes close to being like God? To whom or what can you compare him? ¹⁹ Some no-god idol? Ridiculous! It's made in a workshop, cast in bronze, Given a thin veneer of gold, and draped with silver filigree. ²⁰ Or, perhaps someone will select a fine wood - olive wood, say - that won't rot, Then hire a woodcarver to make a no-god, giving special care to its base so it won't tip over!

New King James Version

¹³ Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? ¹⁴ With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? ¹⁵ Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. ¹⁶ And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. ¹⁷ All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.

¹⁸ To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? ¹⁹ 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 contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

New Living Translation

¹³ Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord ? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? ¹⁴ Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? ¹⁵ No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. ¹⁶ All the wood in Lebanon's forests and all Lebanon's animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. ¹⁷ The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing- mere emptiness and froth.

¹⁸ To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? ¹⁹ Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? ²⁰ Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won't decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won't fall down!