14:22
Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
22a Do not those who contrive evil go astray ?
22b But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
14:22a–b
those who contrive evil…those who plan goodness: These two phrases both refer to making plans that affect others. Some people plan to harm others. Other people plan to benefit them.
14:22a
Do not those who contrive evil go astray?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that those who make evil plans certainly go astray. There are two ways to translate this emphasis:
• Use a rhetorical question that implies a definite “yes” answer. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a positive question and to supply the answer. For example:
Do people who make evil plans go astray? Yes, indeed!
• Use a statement. For example:
People who plot evil definitely go astray.
contrive evil: This phrase means to devise a plan to do wrong or to harm someone else. The same phrase occurs in Hebrew in 3:29a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “devise evil.” See the note on 3:29a–b.
go astray: The verb go astray can refer to someone who strays off the right path. It can also refer to someone who gets lost and wanders aimlessly on the wrong path. Here it refers to someone who goes astray morally and follows wrong behavior.
14:22b
find loving devotion and faithfulness: The verb find is supplied by the Berean Standard Bible. There is no verb in the Hebrew. Some scholars think that loving devotion and faithfulness are qualities that are shown in the lives of people who plan what is good. However, it is more likely that both lines of this verse refer to the contrasting consequences of planning evil and planning good. The person who plans to do good to others will receive love and faithfulness from others.
The ones who show loving devotion and faithfulness could include both people and God, but the main reference here is probably to people.
loving devotion and faithfulness: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: steadfastness/loyalty, love, and kindness. The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as faithfulness describes a person who is loyal or reliable. For more information on the phrase loving devotion and faithfulness, see the note on 3:3a.
Some scholars think that these two qualities function together (as a hendiadys) to mean “loyal/reliable love.” But most versions give two qualities separated by “and.” For example:
but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted (New Century Version)
It is recommended that you treat these two terms as separate qualities, since they occur both individually and in the opposite order in other verses.
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