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Compassion for the Compassionate

Proverbs 14:22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²²Do they not go astray who plan evil?
But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

Do they not go astray who plan evil?: The purpose of this question is to persuade or impress an emphatic message on the reader, to make an emphatic statement rather than to obtain information. The Hebrew word (תָּעָה taah) rendered go astray here means “take the wrong road,” or “wander off,” or “to wander off from a correct belief or action.” We find the same Hebrew word being used at 7:25 in reference to an immoral woman, where the young man is not to wander from the moral beliefs and values that the father has instilled in him into a course of action that would lead him down her immoral path. The Hebrew (חָרַשׁ charash) for plan evil means to devise, plot, or plan some detailed secret, wicked plans. These persons deliberately deviate from what is good. They use crooked speech (false speech, lies, and deception), which is characteristic of those who reject wisdom (cf. Prov. 8:13; 10:31-32).

But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good: The Hebrew (חָרַשׁ charash), of course, can be used for planning, plotting, devising, and thinking about good as well. On this side of charash, we are talking about planning, thinking about, and making decisions that are good.

The foolishness of those who not only do evil things but are actually planning, plotting, devising, and thinking about doing wicked things as well. They certainly do err, that is, wander off from correct beliefs or ways of life. Everyone knows their ways are foolish and will end badly but them. Somehow, these have convinced themselves that they can be craftier with their schemes as they go about their wicked ways, plotting, planning, devising, and so where all others have failed, they will somehow succeed. The odds of getting through this life without being caught or anyone knowing of their evil ways is almost impossible, but for argument’s sake, say they do. The real-life (1 Tim. 6:19), that is, eternal life is what they will have sacrificed. The Chief Justice of life, God himself, cannot be outwitted. Eternal destruction is what the payout is for their wicked ways. The real-life will be going to those who plan, plot, devise, and think about doing good. Mercy and truth shall be theirs. They are on the correct path by devising it that way, which leads to a correct worldview and a biblical worldview, so their actions are good.