40:15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales.
He lifts 1 the coastlands 2 as if they were dust.
40:16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; 3
its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. 4
40:17 All the nations are insignificant before him;
they are regarded as absolutely nothing. 5
40:18 To whom can you compare God?
To what image can you liken him?
1 tn Or “weighs” (NIV); NLT “picks up.”
2 tn Or “islands” (NASB, NIV, NLT).
3 tn The words “for a sacrifice” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
4 sn The point is that not even the Lebanon forest could supply enough wood and animals for an adequate sacrifice to the Lord.
5 tn Heb “[as derived] from nothing and unformed.”