19 As for the [a](A)idol, a craftsman casts it,
A goldsmith (B)plates it with gold,
And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:19 Or carved image

19 As for an idol,(A) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith(B) overlays it with gold(C)
    and fashions silver chains for it.

Read full chapter

So the (A)craftsman encourages the (B)smelter,
And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,
Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
And he fastens it with nails,
(C)So that it will not totter.

Read full chapter

The metalworker(A) encourages the goldsmith,(B)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.(C)

Read full chapter

12 The (A)craftsman of iron shapes a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, [a]fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and [b]his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 (B)The craftsman of wood extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a marker. He works it with carving knives and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of (C)mankind, so that it may sit in a (D)house. 14 He will cut cedars for himself, and he takes a holm-oak or another oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a person to burn, so he takes one of them and gets warm; he also makes a fire and bakes bread. He also (E)makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and (F)bows down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat, he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 Yet the rest of it he (G)makes into a god, his carved image. He bows down before it and worships; he also (H)prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:12 Lit and fashions
  2. Isaiah 44:12 Lit there is no strength

12 The blacksmith(A) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.(B)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.(C)
13 The carpenter(D) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,(E)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(F)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,(G) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(H) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships(I) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(J) down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.(K)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(L)
He prays(M) to it and says,
    “Save(N) me! You are my god!”

Read full chapter

They (A)decorate the idol with silver and gold;
They (B)fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not totter.

Read full chapter

They adorn it with silver(A) and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.(B)

Read full chapter