The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
Parallel translations
- WEB The ways of the scoundrel are evil. He devises wicked devices to destroy the humble with lying words, even when the needy speaks right.
- BSB The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
- NKJV Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; He devises wicked plans To destroy the poor with lying words, Even when the needy speaks justice.
- NASB As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He devises wicked schemes To destroy the poor with slander, Even though the needy one speaks what is right.
- NLT The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil. They plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The scoundrel's ways are evil, scheming with lies to destroy the poor even when they plead rightly. It matters because it condemns deliberate exploitation of the vulnerable.
Overview
The 'scoundrel' devises wicked plots, using deceit to ruin the humble and needy regardless of their just cause. Isaiah exposes calculated injustice against the weak. God's righteous kingdom stands against such oppression, reflecting His heart for the poor and His ultimate vindication of the wronged.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Jer 5:26–28For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
- Matt 26:59–60Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
- Matt 26:14–16Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
- Isa 5:23Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
- Acts 6:11–13Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
- Ps 64:4–6That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
- Jer 18:18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
- Mic 2:11If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
- 1 Kgs 21:10–14And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
- Ps 82:2–5How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
- Isa 59:3–4For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
- Mic 7:2–3The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
- Isa 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- Matt 26:4And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
- Isa 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Ps 10:7–10His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 32:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.