But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.
- BSB But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.
- NKJV But a generous man devises generous things, And by generosity he shall stand.
- NASB But the noble person devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands.
- NLT But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
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 noble person plans noble things and stands firm in them. It matters because it sets generous, upright character against the schemer's evil.
Overview
In contrast to the fool and scoundrel, the truly noble devises and persists in honorable, generous deeds. Character is revealed by steady commitment to good. This portrait of integrity anticipates the people God forms under His righteous King, whose hearts are remade to love and pursue what is good.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 11:29–30Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
- Prov 11:24–25There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
- 2 Sam 9:1–13And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
- Job 31:16–21If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Luke 6:33–35And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
- Acts 9:39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
- 2 Cor 8:2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
- Ps 112:9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
- 2 Cor 9:6–11But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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 32:8 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.