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20 (A) Or special wood may be chosen[a]
    because it doesn't rot—
then skilled hands
take care to make an idol
    that won't fall on its face.

God Rules the Whole Earth

21 Don't you know?
    Haven't you heard?
Hasn't it been clear
    since the time of creation?[b]
22 God is the one who rules
    the whole earth,
and we that live here
    are merely insects.
He spread out the heavens
like a curtain or an open tent.

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Footnotes

  1. 40.20 Or … chosen: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Two kinds of idols seem to be described: bronze idols covered with gold (verse 19) and wooden idols (verse 20).
  2. 40.21 Hasn't … creation: Or “Isn't it clear that God created the world?”

20 A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood(A) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol(B) that will not topple.(C)

21 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?(D)
Has it not been told(E) you from the beginning?(F)
    Have you not understood(G) since the earth was founded?(H)
22 He sits enthroned(I) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.(J)
He stretches out the heavens(K) like a canopy,(L)
    and spreads them out like a tent(M) to live in.(N)

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