Proverbs 12 · Verse 5

Proverbs 12:5

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Proverbs 12:5, King James Version

Proverbs 12:5 in other translations

BSBThe plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.
WEBThe thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
ASVThe thoughts of the righteous are just; But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
YLTThe thoughts of the righteous are justice, The counsels of the wicked--deceit.
DARBYThe thoughts of the righteous are right; the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
BBEThe purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit.
WebsterThe thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

What does Proverbs 12:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. thoughts--or, "purposes." are right--literally, "are judgment," that is, true decisions. counsels--(Compare Pr 11:14). deceit--contrary to truth and honesty.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Thoughts are not free; they are under the Divine knowledge, therefore under the Divine command. It is a man's shame to act with deceit, with trick and design.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 12:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתmach.she.Vot[the] plans ofH4284
צַדִּיקִ֣יםtza.di.Kimrighteous [people]H6662
מִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.Pat[are] justiceH4941
תַּחְבֻּל֖וֹתtach.bu.Lot[the] counsel ofH8458
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
מִרְמָֽה\׃mir.Mah[are] deceitH4820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 12:5

  • Psalms 139:23

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

  • Isaiah 55:7

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

  • Psalms 140:1-3

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

  • Psalms 41:6-7

    And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

  • Jeremiah 4:14

    O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

  • Psalms 36:2-4

    For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

  • Proverbs 11:23

    The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

  • Psalms 119:15

    I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

  • Proverbs 24:9

    The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

  • Matthew 2:3-8

    When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. …

  • Psalms 12:2-3

    They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thoughts.
11:23; 24:9; Ps 119:15; 139:23; Isa 55:7; Jer 4:14
counsels.
Ps 12:2,3; 36:2-4; 41:6,7; 140:1-3; Mt 2:3-8,16; 26:4; 1Co 4:5
2Co 4:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 12:4

    A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

  • Proverbs 12:5

    The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

  • Proverbs 12:6

    The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Read all of Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los pensamientos de los justos son rectitud; mas los consejos de los impíos, engaño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les pensées des justes sont jugement, les desseins des méchants sont fraude.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Gedanken der Gerechten sind Recht, die Überlegungen der Gesetzlosen sind Betrug.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cogitationes justorum judicia, et consilia impiorum fraudulenta.