Isaiah 8:16–19
16 Bind up uthe testimony; vseal the teaching7 among my disciples. 17 I will wwait for the Lord, who is xhiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 yBehold, I and zthe children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the amediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of bthe dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — The New International Version (NIV)
16 Bind up this testimony of warning
and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the Lord,
who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.
18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the Lord,
That hideth his face from the house of Jacob,
And I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me
Are for signs and for wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Preserve the teaching of God;
entrust his instructions to those who follow me.
17 I will wait for the Lord,
who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my hope in him.
18 I and the children the Lord has given me serve as signs and warnings to Israel from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies who dwells in his Temple on Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
16 Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — New Century Version (NCV)
16 Make an agreement.
Seal up the teaching while my followers are watching.
17 I will wait for the Lord to help us,
the Lord who is ashamed of the family of Israel.
I will wait for him.
18 I am here, and with me are the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and proofs for the people of Israel from the Lord All-Powerful, who lives on Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — American Standard Version (ASV)
16 Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait for Jehovah, who hideth his face from the house of Jacob; and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children that Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel, from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion. 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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
16 Tie up the written instructions.
Seal the teachings among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the Lord,
who hides his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will hope in him.
18 I am here with the children that the Lord has given me.
We are signs and symbols in Israel
from the Lord of Armies, who lives on Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 Bind up the testimony.
Seal up the instruction among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the Lord,
who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob.
I will wait for Him.
18 Here I am with the children the Lord has given me to be signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion. 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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 See, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 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,
Isaiah 8:16–19 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
16 Bind up the testimony;
seal the teaching among my disciples.
17 And I will wait for Yahweh,
who hides his face from the house of Jacob,
and I will await him.
18 Look! I and the children whom Yahweh has given to me are like signs and portents in Israel from Yahweh of hosts, the one who dwells on the mountain of Zion. 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,
Isaiah 8:16–19 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
16 Keep safe what the Lord said to you through me.
Seal up among my followers what he taught you through me.
17 I will wait for the Lord.
He is turning his face away from Jacob’s people.
I will put my trust in him.
18 Here I am. Here are the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and reminders to Israel from the Lord who rules over all. He lives on Mount Zion.
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?
Isaiah 8:16–19 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
19 When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?