Isaiah 40:20 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

He who is poor [by] heave-offerings, A tree not rotten doth choose, A skilful artizan he seeketh for it, To establish a graven image -- not moved.

English ASV

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.

English Amplified

He who is so impoverished that he has no offering or oblation or rich gift to give [to his god is constrained to make a wooden offering, an idol; so he] chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to carve and set up an image that will not totter or deteriorate.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

He who is so impoverished that he has no offering or oblation or rich gift to give [to his god is constrained to make a wooden offering, an idol; so he] chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to carve and set up an image that will not totter or deteriorate.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple?

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

A poor person contributes wood for a pedestal that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not fall over.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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.

English EASY 2024

A poor person may choose special wood for his idol. He chooses wood that will not quickly become spoiled. Then he finds a worker to make an idol for him. He makes it so that it will not fall over!

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

For the base he chooses special wood, a kind of wood that will not rot. Then he finds a good wood worker, and the worker makes a "god" that will not fall over.

He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Anyone who cannot afford silver or gold chooses wood that will not rot. He finds a skillful worker to make an image that won't fall down.

English God's Word - GW 1995

The poorest people choose wood that will not rot and search out skillful craftsmen to set up idols that will not fall over.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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.

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

He who is too impoverished to make such a contribution Chooses a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a wise craftsman To prepare a graven image that will not be shaken.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks for himself a skillful workman to prepare a graven image that shall not totter.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

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.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Mulberry wood, the choice portion which a skilled craftsman picks out for himself, Choosing timber that will not rot, to set up an idol that will not be unsteady?

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

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.

English NIV

A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

English NKJ 1982

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.

English NLT

Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down?

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

The one who is poor and cannot afford silver or gold chooses a tree that will not rot, then seeks a skilled workman to make an idol that will not topple.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

He who is impoverished chooses for an offering wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skilful craftsman to set up an image that will not move.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

The man too poor to buy expensive gods like that will find a tree free from rot and hire a man to carve a face on it, and that's his god—a god that cannot even move!

English Tyndale 1537

Moreover shall the image maker, that the poor man which is disposed, may have something to set up also, seek out and choose a tree, that is not rotten, and carve thereout an image, that moveth not?

Isaiah 40:20 — Compare Translations