complete verse (Isaiah 32:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 32:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “But trustworthy people prepare good things
    and they stand on goodness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But honorable people will make plans for honorable work,
    and will live by doing honorable work.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But the true noble man plans to do nobles things, and surely he always does it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 32:8

This verse describes the noble person in contrast with the fool and the knave in the previous two verses, so it is appropriate to begin with the connector But.

Two qualities of the noble person are given here. First, he who is noble devises noble things. He who is noble is a collective expression, so the plural may be used (see the second example below). For noble see Isa 32.5. The verb devise is the same one used in the previous verse. By using the same verb, the prophet draws a contrast between the knave and the noble person: the knave plans deceptive things, while the noble person plans honorable things. Second, by noble things he stands means he actually carries out the noble things he plans. He will always do honorable things.

The Hebrew root meaning “noble” occurs three times in this verse. If possible, translators should reflect this. For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• But the noble person plans to do noble deeds,
and moreover he stands by the noble deeds so planned.

• But honorable people devise honorable deeds,
and remain committed to doing such honorable things.

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 .