Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 12:5, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
American Standard Version
The thoughts of the righteous are just; [But] the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
World English Bible version
The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
Proverbs 12:5 Meaning & Commentary
The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. Proverbs 12:5 (ESV)
A righteous person will think “just” thoughts. There should be no ill intent or ill will towards others in their thoughts. We should be impartial in our thought life. We should think true, good, and pure thoughts.
We know that what happens in our thought life and our hearts can be a big struggle. When we read the book of Psalms, we see that King David often wrestled with his thoughts and what was in his heart. He cried out to God for a pure heart:
Psalm 19: 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
King David was not born again under the new covenant, as we are. Yet, he still wrestled with his heart and his thought life. The prophets in the Old Testament foresaw that God would give us a “new heart,” speaking of the new birth, when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives. We know that in Christ Jesus, we are a new creation:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. The second part of Proverbs 12:5 says that the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The Bible tells us that the heart of man is deceitfully evil:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
A heart not born again cannot be filled with anything of God. This is why the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The word “counsels” is the Hebrew word “tachbulah,” which can also be translated as direction. The wicked are deceived by the direction they are headed, which is due to their wicked and deceitful heart outside of Jesus Christ!
Application
How can we practically apply Proverbs 12:5 to our lives?
We need to know that we have the mind of Christ and have been given the power and ability to think pure thoughts. Although evil and wicked thoughts can still come to our mind, we are commanded to take our thoughts captive:
2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
As we see thoughts coming to our minds that are not of God, we need to “take them captive,” which means to recognize them and not entertain them, thereby allowing them to take root in our minds and become embedded in our hearts. The Bible encourages us to meditate on whatever is deemed pure:
Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
As we meditate on these things, we will find peace in God. We will see our minds being renewed and changed by meditating on God and His Word. Our thoughts begin to align with God’s:
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
When our minds are renewed, we can walk out God’s will for our lives and be pleasing to Him! We do not get rid of bad thoughts, intentions, and motives by actively striving against them. We do so by recognizing them, capturing them to be obedient to Jesus Christ and what The Word of God says, and then re-focusing our thoughts to think and meditate on what is good, pleasing, and acceptable to God!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask you today that you would help me to be pleasing to you in my thought life. Help me recognize the thoughts, motives, intentions, and desires which are not from you.
I desire to set my heart on you and put you first in every area of my life. Help me to see other people the way that you see them, so that there will be no prejudice or impartiality in my thinking. I ask this now in Jesus’ name. Amen!
