The Lord says,“ Suppose the sky above could be measured. Suppose the foundations of the earth below could be completely discovered. Only then would I turn away the people of Israel. Even though they have committed many sins, I will still accept them,” announces the Lord.

耶和华如此说：“若能量度上天，寻察下地的根基，我就因以色列后裔一切所行的弃绝他们。这是耶和华说的。”

耶和华如此说：“若有人能测量上面的天，探索下面地的根基，我才会因以色列后裔所做的一切弃绝他们。这是耶和华说的。”

耶和华如此说：“若有人能测量上面的天，探索下面地的根基，我才会因以色列后裔所做的一切弃绝他们。这是耶和华说的。”

耶和华说：“正如无人能量度高天，探测大地的根基，同样我也决不会因以色列人的所作所为而弃绝他们。这是耶和华说的。”

耶和华这样说：“人若能量度在上的诸天，测透地下面的根基，我也就会因以色列后裔所作的一切，弃绝他们众人。”这是耶和华的宣告。

耶和華如此說：若能量度上天，尋察下地的根基，我就因以色列後裔一切所行的棄絕他們。這是耶和華說的。

耶和華如此說：「若有人能測量上面的天，探索下面地的根基，我才會因以色列後裔所做的一切棄絕他們。這是耶和華說的。」

耶和華如此說：「若有人能測量上面的天，探索下面地的根基，我才會因以色列後裔所做的一切棄絕他們。這是耶和華說的。」

耶和華說：「正如無人能量度高天，探測大地的根基，同樣我也決不會因以色列人的所作所為而棄絕他們。這是耶和華說的。」

耶和華這樣說：“人若能量度在上的諸天，測透地下面的根基，我也就會因以色列後裔所作的一切，棄絕他們眾人。”這是耶和華的宣告。

永恆主這麼說：『上天若能被量度，下地的根基若能被測透，我也就能因以色列後裔所行的一切事來棄絕他們眾人了：永恆主發神諭說。』

如能上度穹蒼、下測地基、則我因以色列裔所為、必遺棄之、耶和華言之矣、

耶和華又曰、如穹蒼可度、大地可測、則我念以色列族所為、必棄之如遺。

主如是云、如能上度天、下測地、則我亦因以色列族所為棄以色列族、此乃主所言、

This is what the Lord says:“ Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.

Thus says the Lord:“ If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord.”

This is what the Lord says:“ Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the Lord, have spoken!

“ This is what the LORD says: Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, will I reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done— this is the LORD’s declaration.

This is what the Lord says:“ If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also reject all the descendants of Israel For everything that they have done,” declares the Lord.

Thus says the Lord:“ If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord.

Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.

This is what the Lord says: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, I will reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done— this is the Lord’s declaration.

Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

The LORD says,“ I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored,” says the LORD.

Yahweh says:“ If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.

“ Haven’t you noticed what these people are saying? They say,‘ The Lord once chose the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. But now he has turned his back on them.’ So they hate my people. They do not think of them as a nation anymore.I say,‘ What if I had not made my covenant with day and night? What if I had not established the laws of heaven and earth?Only then would I turn my back on the children of Jacob and my servant David. Only then would I not choose one of David’s sons to rule over the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will bless my people with great success again. I will love them with tender love.’ ”

Here is what I will do for my servant David. And here is what I will do for the Levites who serve me. I will make their children after them as many as the stars in the sky. And I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. It will be impossible to count them.”

Who has measured the oceans by using the palm of his hand? Who has used the width of his hand to mark off the sky? Who has measured out the dust of the earth in a basket? Who has weighed the mountains on scales? Who has weighed the hills in a balance?

So here is what I ask. Did God turn his back on his people? Not at all! I myself belong to Israel. I am one of Abraham’s children. I am from the tribe of Benjamin.God didn’t turn his back on his people. After all, he chose them. Don’t you know what Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel.He said,“ Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have torn down your altars. I’m the only one left. And they are trying to kill me.”( 1 Kings 19:10, 14)How did God answer him? God said,“ I have kept 7,000 people for myself. They have not bowed down to Baal.”( 1 Kings 19:18)Some are also faithful today. They have been chosen by God’s grace.

In this way all Israel will be saved. It is written,“ The God who saves will come from Mount Zion. He will remove sin from Jacob’s family.Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins.”( Isaiah 59:20, 21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33, 34)As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. This is for your good. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. This is because of God’s promises to the founders of our nation.God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.

“ Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are? Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?They are higher than the heavens above. What can you do? They are deeper than the deepest parts of the earth below. What can you know?They are longer than the earth. They are wider than the ocean.

People of Jacob, do not be afraid. You are my servant. I am with you,” announces the Lord.“ I will completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will correct you. But I will be fair. I will not let you go without any punishment.”

I am with you. I will save you,’ ” announces the Lord.“‘ I will completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will correct you. But I will be fair. I will not let you go without any punishment.’ ”

I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a coat? Who has set in place all the boundaries of the earth? What is his name? What is his son’s name? Surely you know!