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Isaiah 40:19–20

19  yAn idol! A craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and casts for it silver chains.

20  zHe who is too impoverished for an offering

chooses wood8 that will not rot;

he seeks out a skillful craftsman

to set up an idol that will not move.

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Isaiah 40:19–20 — The New International Version (NIV)

19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and fashions silver chains for it.

20 A person too poor to present such an offering

selects wood that will not rot;

they look for a skilled worker

to set up an idol that will not topple.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — New Living Translation (NLT)

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!

Isaiah 40:19–20 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

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.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — New Century Version (NCV)

19 An idol is formed by a craftsman,

and a goldsmith covers it with gold

and makes silver chains for it.

20 A poor person cannot buy those expensive statues,

so he finds a tree that will not rot.

Then he finds a skilled craftsman

to make it into an idol that will not fall over.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — American Standard Version (ASV)

19 The image, a workman hath cast it, and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth for it silver chains. 20 He that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

19 The workman casteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains for it. 20 He that is impoverished, so that he hath no offering, chooseth a tree that doth not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilled workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

19 Craftsmen make idols. 

Goldsmiths cover them with gold. 

Silversmiths make silver chains for them. 

20 The poorest people choose wood that will not rot 

and search out skillful craftsmen 

to set up idols that will not fall over. 

Isaiah 40:19–20 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

19 To an idol?—something that a smelter casts,

and a metalworker plates with gold

and makes silver welds for it?

20 To one who shapes a pedestal,

choosing wood that does not rot?

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not fall over.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 An idol? —A workman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,

and casts for it silver chains.

20 As a gift one chooses mulberry wood

—wood that will not rot—

then seeks out a skilled artisan

to set up an image that will not topple.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

19 A craftsman pours out the idol,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,

and he smelts chains of silver.

20 The one who is too impoverished for a gift chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks a skillful artisan for himself to set up an image that will not be knocked over.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

19 Will you compare him to a statue of a god?

Any skilled worker can make a statue.

Then another worker covers it with gold

and makes silver chains for it.

20 But someone who is too poor to bring that kind of offering

will choose some wood that won’t rot.

Then he looks for a skilled worker.

He pays the worker to make a statue of a god that won’t fall over.

Isaiah 40:19–20 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

19 As for the idol, a craftsman casts it,

A goldsmith plates it with gold,

And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.

20 He who is too impoverished for such an offering

Selects a tree that does not rot;

He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman

To prepare an idol that will not totter.


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