Proverbs 14:22

22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find ^[a] loving devotion and faithfulness.

Proverbs 14:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:22

Do they not err that devise evil?
&c.] Certainly they do; they go astray from the right way, from the word of truth, from the Gospel of Christ, who contrive schemes to commit sin, and do mischief to their neighbours; or who "plough" ^F20 it, and sow it, and expect a fine harvest; but they will be mistaken, and find it will not turn to account, and that they have took a wrong course, and have gone out of the way: none more mischievous devisers or contrivers of evil than the Papists, and none more sadly and fatally err; but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good;
who devise liberal things, to do good to the poor and needy; to their neighbours, their fellow creatures and fellow Christians: such receive grace and "mercy" at the hands of God, and his "truth" will appear in making good all promises to them; mercy and truth will preserve them from the evil way, and guide them in the right way, so that they shall not err as others do; neither from the doctrines of grace and truth, nor from the practice of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (vrx) "arant", Baynus; "arantibus", Amama; "verbum proprie significat arare", Piscator.

Proverbs 14:22 In-Context

20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.

23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or show