King James Version

Proverbs 14:22

Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

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Hebrew

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הֲֽלוֹאhalono , -r,לֹאparticle, interrogative, particle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יִ֭תְעוּyitvdeceiveתָּעָהverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “deceive”, an unfinished actionH8582to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both(cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way.חֹ֣רְשֵׁיchoreshebe deafחָרַשׁverb, qal, participle, construct — “be deaf”, a verb used as a describing wordH2790to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)[idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.רָ֑עrabadרַעadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “bad”, the ordinary formH7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery…וְחֶ֥סֶדvechesedand kindnessחֵסֵדconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and kindness”, the ordinary formH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗תveemetand assuredאֶמֶתconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and assured”, the ordinary formH571stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthinessassured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.חֹ֣רְשֵׁיchoreshebe deafחָרַשׁverb, qal, participle, construct — “be deaf”, a verb used as a describing wordH2790to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)[idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.טֽוֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Shall they not go astray that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be for them that devise good.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Young’s Literal Translation

Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth [are] to those devising good,

World English Bible

Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

Darby Translation

Do they not err that devise evil? but loving-kindness and truth are for those that devise good.

Douay-Rheims

They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Shall they not go astray that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be for them that devise good.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Πλανώμενοι τεκταίνουσι κακά, ἔλεον δὲ καὶ ἀλήθειαν τεκταίνουσιν ἀγαθοί· οὐκ ἐπίστανται ἔλεον καὶ πίστιν τέκτονες κακῶν, ἐλεημοσύναι δὲ καὶ πίστεις παρὰ τέκτοσιν ἀγαθοῖς.