Proverbs 14:22 "Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good."

Because he was wise, Solomon knew what to say and how to say it. In this proverb, he began by asking a question. He asked this question not to get a verbal answer but to get a mental reaction. He wanted to get his reader thinking. He knew that the mind so easily gets distracted or distant in its thoughts. He wanted his audience to do more than listen; he wanted them to think. This proverb is all about the heavy consequences of thinking, specifically thoughts pertaining to good and evil.
The question, "do they not err that devise evil?" invites brain activity. It provokes mental investigation. It gets us thinking more than listening. By getting us thinking about the question, Solomon places us in the arena that this proverb is addressing - the arena of serious thought. To devise evil is to think deeply about evil. More specifically, to devise evil is to mentally create evil scenarios, plots, plans, imaginations or inventions. To devise anything is to come up with something that is unique and creative. Devising is not just contemplating an existing thought or idea; it's creating a new thought or idea in your mind. Devising is not just vetting or processing someone else's proposed thought or idea; it's birthing an entirely new thought or creating a uniquely different spin on an existing idea. As the proverb clearly states, anything from good to evil can be devised.
The Bible is full of examples of this mental creativity. When the Israelites were building the Tabernacle later in the Book of Exodus, God filled Bezaleel and Aholiab with His Spirit so they could "devise" both "cunning" (skilled, ingenious) and "curious" works. These carvings and castings were uniquely crafted in their minds before ever being made in the desert. They didn't go to a catalog to order or mimic already existing furniture or ornaments in production. They came up with the designs on their own in their heads. In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam came up with a corrupted version of Judaism for the newly formed Northern Kingdom of Israel. In it, he came up with new altars and locations of worship as well as a new religious calendar, "which he had devised of his own heart." Over and over, the word, "devise" is used in the Book of Esther to describe Haman's creative plot to exterminate the Jewish people once and for all. In Psalm 36, David described an evil man as one who "flattereth himself in his own eyes" and as one who then "deviseth mischief upon his bed." This evil man is coming up with ideas on his own that he thinks are intelligent and extraordinary. To devise is to be creative. This proverb highlights the consequences of that creativity when applied to thoughts of morality.
We can be just as creative with good and evil as we can be with decor and fashion. We can be just as creative with good and evil as with food and beverage. We can be just as creative with good and evil as with technology and manufacturing. Just as we imagine the perfect house, we imagine the perfect spouse. Just as we can put together a unique financial plan to obtain that dream house, we can devise a unique relational plan to obtain that dream man or woman and it can be either good or evil. God designed us with a tremendous capacity for creativity. Unfortunately, we disobeyed God in the Garden and voluntarily consumed the knowledge of good and evil, which infused our creative minds with a library of evil building blocks. It wouldn't be long before God noted of man, "that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). Our creativity was meant to be a gift but because of our disobedience in the garden, it now can so easily become a curse if we use it within our knowledge of evil.
When we use our creativity to come up with evil ideas, intents or inventions, it will lead to certain error. When we allow our minds to come up with ways to hurt people, those invisible and inaudible thoughts will eventually cause us to wander from the right way. Solomon wanted his audience to know that good and evil start in the mind. How we use our creativity determines our morality. If we use the creativity in our mind to craft venomous words to "show him" or to "get back at her," we are setting ourselves up for tremendous moral and relational error. If we devise cruel words in our mind for paper, screen or conversation that we think will really make a vengeful splash with someone, we're giving our wicked tongues and selfish fingers too much temptation. We can't afford to devise evil because once that creative thought has been formed, our flesh will latch on to it and remain obsessively discontent until it sees it play out in real life. If we devise a scenario where we are romantically or sexually involved with someone we shouldn't be involved with, we're putting ourselves in great danger because what we create in our creative minds is what our human nature wants to fulfil in our lives. Mental creativity with immorality puts a person on the fast track for moral mistake. "Do they not err that devise evil?"
On the promising backend of this proverb is the reassurance that when we use our creativity for good, we will receive mercy and truth. When we spend our sleepless nights coming up with creative ways to help people, including those who have wronged us, God promises to send us mercy and truth. When we use our God-given creativity to imagine ways to better serve Him, we're promised by His holy word mercy and truth. When we think about new ways to be thankful, God loves that and to prove it, He sends mercy and truth. We have as much capacity to devise good as we do evil. As dark as our minds can be when it comes to imagining evil, we are equally as capable of brightening our minds by imagining good. As evil as our devices can be towards others because of lust, pride, jealousy and envy, our mental devices can be just as good towards others because of love, joy, peace and long-suffering.
Moral success begins well before the hands, feet and lips get involved. What we think and how we think is where it all begins. Creatively thinking about evil will derail us and cause our lives to err from the right way. Creatively thinking about good will keep us on the rails of spiritual success because it will bring mercy in times of uncleanness and truth in times of uncertainty. Let us realize and remember that just because our evil imaginations haven't yet become reality doesn't mean that they aren't terribly dangerous. Refuse to devise evil and determine to instead, devise good. God gets creative with mercy and truth in our lives when we get creative with good.
The question, "do they not err that devise evil?" invites brain activity. It provokes mental investigation. It gets us thinking more than listening. By getting us thinking about the question, Solomon places us in the arena that this proverb is addressing - the arena of serious thought. To devise evil is to think deeply about evil. More specifically, to devise evil is to mentally create evil scenarios, plots, plans, imaginations or inventions. To devise anything is to come up with something that is unique and creative. Devising is not just contemplating an existing thought or idea; it's creating a new thought or idea in your mind. Devising is not just vetting or processing someone else's proposed thought or idea; it's birthing an entirely new thought or creating a uniquely different spin on an existing idea. As the proverb clearly states, anything from good to evil can be devised.
The Bible is full of examples of this mental creativity. When the Israelites were building the Tabernacle later in the Book of Exodus, God filled Bezaleel and Aholiab with His Spirit so they could "devise" both "cunning" (skilled, ingenious) and "curious" works. These carvings and castings were uniquely crafted in their minds before ever being made in the desert. They didn't go to a catalog to order or mimic already existing furniture or ornaments in production. They came up with the designs on their own in their heads. In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam came up with a corrupted version of Judaism for the newly formed Northern Kingdom of Israel. In it, he came up with new altars and locations of worship as well as a new religious calendar, "which he had devised of his own heart." Over and over, the word, "devise" is used in the Book of Esther to describe Haman's creative plot to exterminate the Jewish people once and for all. In Psalm 36, David described an evil man as one who "flattereth himself in his own eyes" and as one who then "deviseth mischief upon his bed." This evil man is coming up with ideas on his own that he thinks are intelligent and extraordinary. To devise is to be creative. This proverb highlights the consequences of that creativity when applied to thoughts of morality.
We can be just as creative with good and evil as we can be with decor and fashion. We can be just as creative with good and evil as with food and beverage. We can be just as creative with good and evil as with technology and manufacturing. Just as we imagine the perfect house, we imagine the perfect spouse. Just as we can put together a unique financial plan to obtain that dream house, we can devise a unique relational plan to obtain that dream man or woman and it can be either good or evil. God designed us with a tremendous capacity for creativity. Unfortunately, we disobeyed God in the Garden and voluntarily consumed the knowledge of good and evil, which infused our creative minds with a library of evil building blocks. It wouldn't be long before God noted of man, "that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). Our creativity was meant to be a gift but because of our disobedience in the garden, it now can so easily become a curse if we use it within our knowledge of evil.
When we use our creativity to come up with evil ideas, intents or inventions, it will lead to certain error. When we allow our minds to come up with ways to hurt people, those invisible and inaudible thoughts will eventually cause us to wander from the right way. Solomon wanted his audience to know that good and evil start in the mind. How we use our creativity determines our morality. If we use the creativity in our mind to craft venomous words to "show him" or to "get back at her," we are setting ourselves up for tremendous moral and relational error. If we devise cruel words in our mind for paper, screen or conversation that we think will really make a vengeful splash with someone, we're giving our wicked tongues and selfish fingers too much temptation. We can't afford to devise evil because once that creative thought has been formed, our flesh will latch on to it and remain obsessively discontent until it sees it play out in real life. If we devise a scenario where we are romantically or sexually involved with someone we shouldn't be involved with, we're putting ourselves in great danger because what we create in our creative minds is what our human nature wants to fulfil in our lives. Mental creativity with immorality puts a person on the fast track for moral mistake. "Do they not err that devise evil?"
On the promising backend of this proverb is the reassurance that when we use our creativity for good, we will receive mercy and truth. When we spend our sleepless nights coming up with creative ways to help people, including those who have wronged us, God promises to send us mercy and truth. When we use our God-given creativity to imagine ways to better serve Him, we're promised by His holy word mercy and truth. When we think about new ways to be thankful, God loves that and to prove it, He sends mercy and truth. We have as much capacity to devise good as we do evil. As dark as our minds can be when it comes to imagining evil, we are equally as capable of brightening our minds by imagining good. As evil as our devices can be towards others because of lust, pride, jealousy and envy, our mental devices can be just as good towards others because of love, joy, peace and long-suffering.
Moral success begins well before the hands, feet and lips get involved. What we think and how we think is where it all begins. Creatively thinking about evil will derail us and cause our lives to err from the right way. Creatively thinking about good will keep us on the rails of spiritual success because it will bring mercy in times of uncleanness and truth in times of uncertainty. Let us realize and remember that just because our evil imaginations haven't yet become reality doesn't mean that they aren't terribly dangerous. Refuse to devise evil and determine to instead, devise good. God gets creative with mercy and truth in our lives when we get creative with good.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
April
2024
January
September
2023
January
February
March
April
October
2022
January
February
June
September
Categories
Tags
Rehoboam
Solomon
fear of God
health
pride
self-sufficiency
wisdom
1 Corinthians
1 John
2020
5th Commandment
Aaron
Abel
Abhor God
Abigail
Abortion
Abraham
Absalom
Accident
Accomplishment
Achan
Acts 17
Acts
Adam & Eve
Adam
Adolescence
Adolf Hitler
Adulterer
Adulteress
Aesop's Fable
Aesop\'s Fable
Aesop\\\'s Fable
Affair
Afraid
Age
Agreement
Agriculture
Ahijah
Ahithophel
Albany
Alcoholism
Alive
Ally
Alone
Amazon
Ambition
American
America
Amnon
Anarchists
Andrew Finch
Anger
Animal Abuse
Animals
Answered Prayer
Antichrist
Applause
Apple of Eye
Application
Approval
Arrogance
Arthritis
Asaph
Ashamed
Athletes
Athletics
Attorney
Attraction
Authorities
Backbone
Back
Balaam
Balance
Bank Accounts
Barn
Bathsheba
Beauty
Bedroom
Beecher
Beef
Behavior
Benefit
Benjamin
BestBuy
Bethlehem
Betting
Bezaleel
Bible reading
Bible teacher
Bible-reading
Bible
Biblical instruction
Big Mouths
Big Picture
Bin Laden
Birth
Blog
Boasting
Bonar
Bondage
Books
Boomerang
Bow
Boyfriend
Boys
Brutal
Brutish
Budget
Buffalo Bills
Builder
Building
Business
CA Rt 1
Cable News
Calamity
Call of Duty
Calming
Calvin
Canaan
Cancer
Candidates
Careers
Cares of Life
Casey Viner
Cents
Changes
Change
Character
Cheesecake Factory
Christian upbringing
Christ
Churches
Circumspect
Clamor
Classmates
Cleaning
Clinton
Clothes
Clothing
Coaches
Coach
College
Commands
Commend
Communication
Community
Companionship
Companions
Company
Compass
Compliance
Conceit
Conception
Conclusion
Condemnation of God
Confession
Confidentiality
Conflict
Conservation
Consquences
Consquence
Consumer
Consumption
Contentions
Contrast
Conversation
Conviction
Cooking
Cooperation
Corinthians
Corrupt
Cosigner
Cosigning
Cosign
Cotton Candy
Counseling
Countenance
Courting
Courts
Coworkers
Cow
Creation
Creator
Creatures
Crime
Criminals
Crooked
Crown
Cruel
Curiosity
Currency
Danger
Daniel
Data
Dating
Daughters
David
Days
Death
Deceit
Deceived
Deceptive
Delilah
Delivery
Democracy
Democratic
Desires
Desire
Despise God
Despise
Deuteronomy
Devices
Devil
Diet
Diligent
Diploma
Discerning
Discovery
Diseases
Disease
Dishonesty
Dishonor
Dislikes
Divorce
Dollars
Domestic Violence
Doorhanger
Drama
Dreams
Dress
Drink
Drug lords
Drunk Driver
Drunk
Early Adulthood
Ears
Eastern Culture
Eating
Ecclesiastes
Economic Stability
Eden
Elderly
Elihu
Elijah
Eliphaz
Emai
Emerson
Emmies
Employers
Encouragement
End
Engagement
English
Enoch
Ephesians
Ephraimites
Esau
Estate Planning
Esther
Eternity
Ethan
Evening
Eve
Evolution
Excellence
Excel
Exodus
Expectations
Expectation
Experience
FaceBook
Face
Faithful
Fall of Man
False
Fame
Families
Famine
Farmer
Farming
Farm
Fashion
Favor of God
Fear of the Lord
Fearing God
Feast of Purim
Fields
Financial Advisor
Financial Planning
Financial Security
Fingers
Folly
Food
Foolish
Football
Foreknowledge
Free-will
Freedom
Friendships
Friendship
Friend
Froward
Fruit
Fumble
Funny
Fun
GPS
Gadarenes
Galatians 6:7
Galatians
Gamble
Gang
Garden of Eden
Garden of Gethsemane
Garden
Gender Differences
Genesis
Gideon
Gileadites
Girlfriend
Girls
Giving
Glad
Gluttony
Goals
God's Kingdom
God\'s Kingdom
Godhead
Goliath
Goodness
Gossip
Graciousness
Grammies
Grandchildren
Gratitude
Grave
Grief
Guess
Guide
Guilt Culture
Gullible
Gun Control
Gun Violence
Guns
Gutters
Gut
Hagar
Haman
Hamlet
Hands
Hannah
Hard Work
Hard-Working
Harlot
Hate Evil
Hate God
Hatred
Head
Healthcare
Healthy
Hearing
Heaven
Heaviness
Heavy Heart
Hebrews
Heifer
Helicopters
Hell
Herod
Highway
Hiker
History
Hollywood
Holy Spirit
Home Depot
Homeowner
Homes
Homicide
Homosexuality
Honesty
Hosea
House
Human Nature
Humble
Humility
Hungry
Hunting
Hypocrisy
Hypocrites
IRS
Ian Brady
Ideas
Ignorant
Illness
Imagination
Imagine
Immorality
Inconsiderate
Independence
Industrious
Inheritance
Inherit
Insecurity
Insight
Instagram
Instructing
Integrity
Intents
Interaction
Internet
Interview
Intoxication
Introspective
Intuition
Inventions
Isaac
Israel
Jacob
Jairus
James
Jealousy
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jello
Jenga
Jeremiah
Jeroboam
Jerusalem
Jesus Christ
Jesus
Jewish Law
Jewish
Jimmy Soul
Jobs
Job
John the Apostle
John
Jonah
Joseph
Joshua
Josiah
Joy
Judah
Judaism
Judas Iscariot
Judges
Judging
Judgmental
Jury
Justice System
Kindness
King David
King Hezekiah
King James Version
King of kings
Kings
King
Kneel
Know-it-all
Language
Last Testament
Laughter
Laugh
Law Enforcement
Laws
Law
Leaders
Learn
Legislation
Leper
Liars
Liar
Liberty
Library
Lies
Life Lesson
Life-Insurance
Likes
Lion
Loan
Longevity
Look
Looting
Lori Loughlin
Loss of Health
Loss of LIfe
Loss
Lottery
Love Triangle
Lowliness
Luke 7
Luke
Luther
Luxury
Lying
ME
MLB
Magazines
Majority
Maker
Makeup
Maniac
Manna
Mansion
Manure
Maple Trees
Mark
Martyrs
Martyr
Marvel
Mary
Matthew
Media
Meekness
Memories
Mentors
Men
Merciful
Merriness
Messages
Mike Tyson
Mindset
Ministers
Mirth
Mob
Mockering
Mocker
Mocking
Mock
Monarchy
Monarch
Monopoly
Month
Moody
Moon
Morality
Mordecai
Morning
Moses
Motherhood
Mouths
Murder
Musician
NBA
NFL
NHL
Natural Disaster
Naughtiness
Nebuchadnezzar
Negative
Nehemiah
New Tricks
News Anchors
Noah
Nobles
Nose
Numbers
Nutrition
O.J. Simpson
Obama
Observation
Obtain
Old Dogs
Olive Garden
Order
Others
Oxen
Paint
Parenting
Partnership
Party
Passion
Pastors
Pastor
Pasture
Paul the Apostle
Paul
Perception
Perspective
Perverse
Perversion
Peter
Pharisees
Pharoah
Philippians
Phone Call
Physical Appearance
Plant
Player
Pleasure
Policies
Political Parties
Politicians
Politics
Polygamy
Poor
Popularity
Portrait
Positive
Positivity
Possessions
Potiphar's Wife
Potiphar\'s Wife
Potiphar\\\'s Wife
Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife
Praise
Prate
Prating
Preacher
Pregnancy
Pregnant
Premeditated
Preparation
Presence
Present
Princes
Prince
Principal Thing
Principal
Procrastinate
Procrastinator
Profit
Proof
Prophecy
Prophet
Prosperity Gospel
Prostitute
Protests
Proud
Proverbs
Proverb
Prudent
Psalm 21
Psalm 23
Psalm 35
Psalm 37
Psalms 37
Psalms
Psalm
Punishment
Pure
Purity
Purpose
QVC
Questions
Rachel
Rage
Ransom
Rebate
Rebekkah
Rebel
Red Lobster
Reels
Regulations
Regulation
Rehoboam
Rehoboma
Relational
Relationship Difficulties
Relationship
Religion
Remember
Repentance
Reporter
Reprove
Republican
Reputation
Research
Resentment
Resistance
Responsibilities
Resume
Resurrection
Retirement
Revealing
Revelation
Reward
Rich & Famous
Rich Man
Rich
Ridicule
Righteouness
Right
Riot
Road
Romania
Romans 8:28
Romans
Rulers
Ruler
Rules
Rule
Sabbath
Sadness
Samson
Samuel
Sarah
Satan
Satisfaction
Satisfy
Saul
Saving
Scale
Scam
School
Science
Scientist
Scoffer
Scripture
Sea of Galilee
Seasons
Seatbelts
Secrets
Seduce
Seed
Seek
Self-Awareness
Self-Confidence
Selfies
Selfishness
Self
Senses
Sense
Sermons
Servitude
Sexual Chaos
Sexual Confusion
Shakespeare
Shall
Shame Culture
Shame
Shane Gaskill
Shenandoah Valley
Shepherd
Shoe Laces
Siblings
Sickness
Sight
Silence
Simon Peter
Simon
Sinning
Slothful
Smelling
Social Media
Social
Society
Solomon
Song of Solomon
Sons
Sorrow
Source
Speaking
Speak
Speculation
Speech
Speeding
Spies
Spiritual Security
Spirituality
Sporting
Sports
Sport
Spouses
Stanley Cup
Steal
Stephen
Stimulus
Stock Market
Strange Woman
Strangers
Stratego
Strength
Stress
Struggles
Stubbornness
Stubborn
Student
Subission
Submit
Sun
Super Bowl Rings
Surely
Surety
Surrender
Swatting
Sweat
Tabernacle
Talebearer
Talkative
Talking
Tamar
Tasting
Tax
Taylor
Teachers
Teaching
Teenagers
Teenager
Teens
Tendency
Tension
Tent
Texas Roadhouse
Text
Theft
Theocracy
Tik Tok
Till
Timothy
Tithes
To be or not to be
Toddlers
Toddler
Tolerance
Tomb
Tongue
Touching
Tour Guide
Traffic Light
Traffic Signal
Tragedy
Trainer
Transgressor
Traveling
Travel
Treasure
Treatment
Tribute
Trickery
Trinity
Trips
Trouble
True Love
True Wisdom
True
Trusting
Turner
Twisted
Tyler Barriss
Uber Eats
Understanding
Unemployment
Unforgiveness
Unhealthy
Universities
Unjust
Unrighteous
Uprightness
Upright
Vacation
Vain
Value
Vanity
Vehicle
Vengeance
Videos
View of God
Virtuous
Vision
Votes
Voting
Walk
Walmart
Washington
Watsom
Way of Life
Way
Wealthy
Weight
Western Culture
Winking
Wink
Wise Men
Witnessing
Witness
Womb
Women
Work Ethic
Worth
Wrong
X
Yankees
YouTube
Zechariah
addiction
adultery
advertisements
advertiser
advertising
advice
advisor
affection
affirmation
aggression
alcohol
amos
angels
anointing
ant
anxiety
appetite
argument
assumption
as
attractions
authority
background
backyard
bankrupt
battle
beginning
birds
bitterness
blessed
brain
bright
broken nose
buckler
campfire
cardinal sins
career
carelessness
car
cause
certainty
charity
chastening
childhood
childrearing
children
child
choices
church attendance
church
command
confidence
confident
consequences
considerate
contention
contentment
conversaion
correction
counselor
counsel
courage
covetousness
criticism
cruelty
cynicism
dads
dad
darkness
dark
daughter
debt
deception
decisions
defend
defense
demands
destruction
determination
diamonds
diligence
direction
disappointment
discernment
discipleship
disciples
disciple
discipline
discontentment
discord
discretion
distractions
distress
doctrine
dogs
drinking
drugs
dying
ear
education
effort
emotions
employee
employer
employment
enemies
enticement
enticing
envy
equity
evil communications
evil men
evil women
evil
example
eyelids
eyes
ezekiel
facts
failure
fairness
faith
family
fathers
father
favor
fear of God
fear of man
fear
feelings
feminine
fighting
fight
filthy
finances
fire
flattery
focus
following
foolishness
foolishnes
fools
fool
forgiveness
fornication
friends
future
gambling
gangs
gender
gold
good men
good
government
grace
greed
guard
guilt
happiness
happy
harm
hate
headlights
health
heart
hear
hold your peace
holiness
home
honor
hope
hunger
husbands
husband
ignorance
illustration
income
inequality
infidelity
influence
iniquity
insomnia
instincts
instruction
intimacy
investigation
investing
isaiah
issued
issue
jabs
jewelry
judgment
justice
just
kidnapper
kidney
kids
knowledge
labor
law of sowing and reaping
laziness
lazy
leadership
learning
legacy
length of days
lessons
let
life
light
lips
listening
listen
little
liver
living
loans
loneliness
long life
longterm
love
lucifer
lust
man
marketing
marriage
math
memorization
memory
mercy
messenger
millions
mind
ministry
mischief
misery loves company
misery
mistakes
mom
money
mothers
mother
motive
mouth
movies
nature
necklace
neck
neighbor
obscenity
observant
oil
oppression
oppressor
organs
ornaments
parable
paranoia
parenthood
parents
parent
pastoring
path
peace
peculiarity
peer pressure
peers
peer
permission
personification
pleasant
politician
ponder
pornography
pottymouth
poverty
power
prayer
preservation
pride
priests
private
procrastination
prodigal
profanity
prosperity
prostitution
protection
protect
prudence
public restroom
purchases
reading
reaping
reason
rebellion
rebuke
regret
rejection
relate
relationships
relevant
remedy
remembrance
remorse
repetition
replacement
reproof
respect
responsibility
responsible
retain
retention
riches
righteousness
righteous
risk
robber
romance
rubies
safety
sailor
salvation
schools
scorner
secret
security
seduction
seeing
see
self-sufficiency
self-sufficient
serpent
seven deadly sins
seven
sexist
sexual sin
sex
short-term
silver
simple
simplicity
sinners
sin
skepticism
slander
sleeplessness
sleep
slothfulness
sluggard
smoke to the eyes
smoke
son
soul
sowing
spleen
spouse
stability
stranger
strange
strife
striving
successful
success
suicide
surgeon
sword
talents
talk
taxes
teacher
television
temptation
tendencies
thief
thieves
thinking
think
thoughtfulness
thoughts
thought
threats
time
tithe
trains
tree of life
trust
truth
tv
vehicles
vice
video games
vinegar to the teeth
vinegar
violence
violent
virtue
virtuous woman
visual
voice of God
voice
vulgar
walking
war
wealth
well
wickedness
wicked
wife
will
wine
wisdom
wise sayings
wise
wives
woman
word of God
words
workplace
work
worry
young man
young people
young
youth