This verse teaches that the path of evil leads astray, while planning good reaps the rewards of kindness and truth.
The proverb links our inner motives to the outcomes we experience when it says, “Will they not go astray who devise evil?” (v.22). In this rhetorical question, the writer highlights that plotting wickedness sets people on a path away from wisdom. The term “go astray” describes wandering off the proper path—an image that resonates throughout Proverbs to show how our steps are guided by what we cherish in our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). Those who choose evil plot misdirection for themselves, ultimately becoming lost in a moral wilderness.
On the other hand, we are taught, “But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.” (v.22). The phrase “devise good” stands out, meaning that genuine goodness requires intention and conscious thought. Instead of embracing malice or seeking to harm others, the wise plan out how to bless and encourage their neighbors. The resulting “kindness and truth” can be understood as God’s favor and the practical fruits of righteous living. In the New Testament, Jesus commends this principle, emphasizing that love and grace toward others reflect our heart’s true condition (Matthew 22:37-39).
By applying this proverb, believers witness that filling the mind with benevolence results in outcomes aligned with God’s own loving character (1 John 4:8). When we align our actions with godly ethics, we echo His kindness and truth to a world that desperately needs both. This posture becomes a testimony that invites others to recognize the love of Christ in actionable ways (John 13:34-35).
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Proverbs 14:22 meaning
The proverb links our inner motives to the outcomes we experience when it says, “Will they not go astray who devise evil?” (v.22). In this rhetorical question, the writer highlights that plotting wickedness sets people on a path away from wisdom. The term “go astray” describes wandering off the proper path—an image that resonates throughout Proverbs to show how our steps are guided by what we cherish in our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). Those who choose evil plot misdirection for themselves, ultimately becoming lost in a moral wilderness.
On the other hand, we are taught, “But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.” (v.22). The phrase “devise good” stands out, meaning that genuine goodness requires intention and conscious thought. Instead of embracing malice or seeking to harm others, the wise plan out how to bless and encourage their neighbors. The resulting “kindness and truth” can be understood as God’s favor and the practical fruits of righteous living. In the New Testament, Jesus commends this principle, emphasizing that love and grace toward others reflect our heart’s true condition (Matthew 22:37-39).
By applying this proverb, believers witness that filling the mind with benevolence results in outcomes aligned with God’s own loving character (1 John 4:8). When we align our actions with godly ethics, we echo His kindness and truth to a world that desperately needs both. This posture becomes a testimony that invites others to recognize the love of Christ in actionable ways (John 13:34-35).