Every man who is not upright before the Lord has a crooked way and a wicked mind, and is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord God Almighty.
Man knows that if his way is crooked before God, then he is already guilty before the Lord, because his heart will lead him to do terrible things, and behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon strangers and upon those of wicked mind.
The wicked man is not righteous nor does he practice justice, as his heart is only focused on committing injustice towards others. They are people of wicked mind and crooked heart.
The Scriptures repeatedly show us that the condition of a person’s heart determines the direction of their path. A crooked heart cannot produce a straight way, and a mind that delights in injustice cannot walk in righteousness. This is why the Lord looks beyond outward appearances and examines the intentions, thoughts, and desires that govern a man’s life.
Many people may appear upright before others, hiding their true intentions behind words or actions that seem acceptable. However, nothing is hidden from God. The Lord sees what is secret, and He discerns whether a person truly seeks justice or merely pretends to do so. A wicked heart eventually reveals itself through deeds, decisions, and the way a person treats others.
Chapter 21, verse 8, tells us in Proverbs about men with crooked minds and a path full of injustice before God:
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
Proverbs 21:8
This proverb makes a clear distinction between two types of people. On one side, there is the man whose way is twisted, inconsistent, and corrupt. His path is described as strange because it does not align with the truth of God or the principles of righteousness. On the other side stands the pure, whose works reflect integrity, honesty, and obedience to the Lord.
Those whose hearts are turned aside have the eyes of the Lord upon them, and judgment will fall upon them like a cloud; it will overtake them because they provoked the judgment of the Lord with their wicked deeds before the Most High God.
God’s judgment is not sudden without cause. It is the result of persistent rebellion, hardened hearts, and continuous injustice. When a person repeatedly rejects correction and chooses a crooked path, they store up consequences for themselves. Even if judgment seems delayed, it will surely arrive at the appointed time, just as a storm eventually reaches the land.
Throughout biblical history, we see countless examples of wicked men who prospered for a season but were later brought low by the hand of God. Their success was temporary, and their downfall served as a reminder that no one can escape divine justice. God is patient, but He is also righteous, and He will not ignore evil forever.
At the same time, Scripture encourages the righteous not to lose heart when surrounded by injustice. God sees the affliction of those who walk uprightly, and He remains faithful to defend them. Even when the wicked seem to prevail, the Lord is working behind the scenes to establish justice and truth.
Just as in ancient times, there were many who were unjust, but these injustices did not last long, because God always came to the aid of those in need. It is good that we trust in the Lord, because even though we see the injustices of wicked man, God is the one who ultimately does justice.
Therefore, this passage calls us to examine our own hearts and paths. Are our ways straight before the Lord, or are there areas where we have allowed crooked thoughts or unjust actions to take root? Walking in purity requires humility, repentance, and a sincere desire to please God in all things.
Let us choose the path of righteousness, trusting that the Lord will guide our steps and defend us against injustice. The way of the pure leads to life, peace, and the favor of God, while the crooked path leads only to judgment and ruin. In the end, the justice of the Lord will prevail.