Chapter
Verse

Proverbs 14:22

ESV Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
NIV Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
NASB Will they who devise evil not go astray? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
CSB Don’t those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
NLT If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
KJV Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
NKJV Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

What does Proverbs 14:22 mean?

This verse asks a rhetorical question to emphasize that those who plan to do sinful things are wandering away from truth. Scripture often points out the danger in that choice, both on earth (Psalm 7:14–16; Proverbs 5:22; 11:17) and in eternity (Proverbs 11:23; 12:7; Revelation 20:11–15). In contrast, those who follow God's goodness more often experience good in this life and have corresponding hope in the next (John 3:36).

The sinner's thinking is twisted. He thinks deceit and craftiness bring rich rewards, but such thinking is flawed. Plotting evil can bring temporary advantages (Psalm 73:2–3), but it always leads to divine judgment (Psalm 73:16–19). The civilization in Noah's time plotted evil continually but was swept away in the flood God sent as judgment (Genesis 6:5–7). Noah stood in sharp contrast to that civilization and rode out the flood in the ark God had instructed him to build (Genesis 6:8).

Following the right path, the path of goodness (Proverbs 2:20; 12:2; Psalm 119:66–68), leads to a significant reward. Those who pursue good experience the unfailing love and faithfulness of God. Jeremiah describes this in Lamentations 3:22–23. He writes: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
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