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Isaiah 44:12-20
Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 44:12-20
Christian Standard Bible
12 The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
13 The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human form,(A)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
14 He cuts down[a] cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 A person can use it for fuel.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
he prays to it,(B) “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 Such people[b] do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for he has shut their eyes[c] so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
19 No one comes to his senses;[d]
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
Should I make something detestable(C) with the rest of it?
Should I bow down to a block of wood?”
20 He feeds on[e] ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot rescue himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” (D)
Isaiah 44:12-20
New International Version
Isaiah 44:12-20
New International Version
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!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(O) nothing;
their eyes(P) are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding(Q) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(R)
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(S) thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(T)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(U) a deluded(V) heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(W)”
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.