Postings on Proverbs 12:5

"The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful" (NASB)

I listed to rap music when I was a kid, and one of my favorite songs had this line: "What's running through my mind comes through in my walk." In a very real way, you are what you think and you do what you think, and it seems that's what this proverb is talking about, but there's more here than meets the eye.

Observations: As with almost all proverbs, line 1 is understood with input from line 2 and vice versa, and the word "but" is a clue that whatever is being said in line 1 the opposite is being said in line 2. "Thoughts" and "counsels" are the same, but "the righteous" are being contrasted with "the wicked" and the opposite of "just" is "deceitful." Now, I don't typically think of the opposite of justice being deceit. The opposite of deceit is truth-telling. The opposite of justice is unfairness. Solomon saw them as opposites, but how?

Notice that what's being talked about seems to be internal. "Thoughts / counsels" seem to refer to the dialogue we have with ourselves all day long. The question this proverb might be asking is "What direction do your thoughts take you -- towards justice, doing what's right, or towards deceit, not telling the truth?"

Interpretation: After meditating on this verse and reading some commentaries, the words "thoughts" and "counsels" are better translated "plans" and "guidance," referring to the kind of advice you are given from people in order to achieve some goal.

So, advice that encourages you in the direction of "justice," of doing what you should do rather than taking advantage of people comes from a righteous person, whereas advice that encourages you to be "deceitful," to trick and damage others for your own benefit (see 11:1) comes from a wicked person.

So, instead of this being a proverb about checking your thoughts and where they take you (though that's very important, see Matthew 15:18-19 and James 4:1-3), it's actually a warning about those you allow the privilege of directing your life. It's asking "Are your advisers righteous or wicked? The answer to that question is seen in the kind of advice they give you? In general, is it an encouragement to do what's good and best, or when examined carefully, are you being encouraged to do what's good and best for you?"

Hope that helps!!! TII!!!