Isaiah 40:18-20

New Catholic Bible

¹⁸To whom then will you compare God?
    To what image can you liken him?
¹⁹Perhaps an idol that a craftsman casts
    and a goldsmith overlays with gold
    and for which he fashions silver chains?
²⁰Or should mulberry wood be chosen,
    a wood that will not rot,
and then a skilled artisan be designated
    to fashion an idol that will not fall over?

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Isaiah 40:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸With whom, then, will you compare God?^(A)
    To what image^(B) will you liken him?
¹⁹As for an idol,^(C) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(D) overlays it with gold^(E)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(F) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(G) that will not topple.^(H)

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Isaiah 40:18-20

New King James Version

¹⁸To whom then will you ^(A)liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
¹⁹^(B)The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
²⁰Whoever is too impoverished for such ^[a]a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
^(C)To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 40:20 an offering

Isaiah 40:18-20

English Standard Version

¹⁸^(A)To whom then will you liken God,
    ^(B)or what likeness compare with him?
¹⁹^(C)An idol! A craftsman casts it,
    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
    and casts for it silver chains.
²⁰^(D)He who is too impoverished for an offering
    chooses wood^[a] that will not rot;
he seeks out a skillful craftsman
    to set up an idol that will not move.