Like the fool, the knave shows no concern for those in need.

The knaveries of the knave are evil: As noted in the comments on the previous verse, The knaveries of the knave renders a Hebrew root that is repeated. For knave see Isa 32.5. Another way to express the repetition in this line is “The deceitful ways of the deceiver are evil.”

He devises wicked devices: Not only does the knave do evil things, but he also makes evil plans.

To ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right: This is one of the intentions of the knave’s evil plans. This crafty individual gives false testimony in court against the poor who are innocent, so that they do not receive justice and are ruined (compare 29.20-21). Even when the plea of the needy is right is literally “and when the needy speaks justice.” The needy person has a good case to present in court, but the lies of the deceiver prevent him from receiving justice. The poor and the needy are collective expressions, so they may be made plural. Since they refer to the same people, they may also be combined, as in Good News Translation.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• The villains’ ways are villainous;
they plot evil to ruin the poor,
by giving false evidence even when the poor are in the right.

• The tricksters’ tricks are evil;
they devise evil plans
to ruin the poor by telling lies about them,
even when these needy people plead for justice.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .