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Isaiah 8:19–20

19 When they say to you, “aConsult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people bconsult their God? Should they cconsult the dead on behalf of the living?

20 To the 1alaw and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because bthey have no dawn.

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Isaiah 8:19–20 — The New International Version (NIV)

19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — English Standard Version (ESV)

19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits,

And unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:

Should not a people seek unto their God?

For the living to the dead?

20 To the law and to the testimony:

If they speak not according to this word,

It is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — New Living Translation (NLT)

19 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — New Century Version (NCV)

19 Some people say, “Ask the mediums and fortune-tellers, who whisper and mutter, what to do.” But I tell you that people should ask their God for help. Why should people who are still alive ask something from the dead? 20 You should follow the teachings and the agreement with the Lord. The mediums and fortune-tellers do not speak the word of the Lord, so their words are worth nothing.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — American Standard Version (ASV)

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto the necromancers and unto the soothsayers, who chirp and who mutter, say, Shall not a people seek unto their God? Will they go for the living unto the dead? 20 To the law and the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, for them there is no daybreak.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

19 People will say to you, “Ask for help from the mediums 

and the fortunetellers, who whisper and mutter.” 

Shouldn’t people ask their God for help instead? 

Why should they ask the dead to help the living? 

20 They should go to the teachings and to the written instructions. 

If people don’t speak these words, 

it is because it doesn’t dawn on them. 

Isaiah 8:19–20 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

19 When they say to you, “Consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who chirp and mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 Now if people say to you, “Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, 20 for teaching and for instruction?” surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn!

Isaiah 8:19–20 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

19 Now if they tell you, “Consult the ghosts and the spirits, those who chirp and those who mutter. Should not a people consult its gods, the dead on behalf of the living, 20 for teaching and for testimony?” surely they who speak like this have no dawn.

Isaiah 8:19–20 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

19 Some will tell you to ask for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Others will tell you to ask for advice from people who talk to the spirits of the dead. But those people only whisper. Their words are barely heard. So shouldn’t you ask for advice from your God? Why should you get advice from dead people to help those who are alive?

20 Follow what the Lord taught you and said to you through me. People who don’t speak in keeping with those words won’t have any hope in the morning.


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