The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
Parallel translations
- WEB The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
- KJV The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
- NKJV The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
- NASB The plan of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
- NLT But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
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
In contrast to human plans, the Lord's counsel stands firm forever, to all generations.
Overview
Set against the failing schemes of nations, God's own counsel endures unchangeably through every generation. His purposes are stable and eternal. This unshakable plan finds its center in the gospel, God's eternal purpose to save a people through his Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Job 23:13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
- Lam 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Isa 55:8–9“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
- Isa 14:24The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.
- Jer 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
- Isa 14:27The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
- Eph 1:11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
- Dan 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
- Ps 92:5How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
- Mic 4:12But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan, for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
- Acts 4:27–28In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Acts 15:18that have been known for ages.’
- Ezek 38:10–23This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 33:11 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.