Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 12:5
The thoughts of the righteous [are] right: [but] the counsels of the wicked [are] deceit.
The thoughts of the righteous are right; his constant purpose is to deal justly and truly with God and with men.
The counsels of the wicked are deceit; his great care and contrivance is to wrong and deceive others by fair pretences and cunning artifices.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. thoughtsor, “purposes.”
are rightliterally,”are judgment,” that is, true decisions.
counsels(Compare Pr11:14).
deceitcontrary totruth and honesty.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The thoughts of the righteous [are] right,…. Or “judgment” o. The thoughts of men’s hearts are naturally evil, nor can any think a good thought of themselves; but the thoughts of the righteous are directed and influenced by the grace of God, and are formed according to that Word which is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; their thoughts concerning God and religion, concerning Christ and his Gospel, his ways and worship, his truths and ordinances, they are judiciously framed according to the rule of God’s word, the revelation he has made, and so are right; and such are their resolutions and designs to serve the Lord their God, and him only, and to cleave to him with full purpose of heart
[but] the counsels of the wicked [are] deceit; the designs, schemes, and contrivances of wicked men, are to trick, and overreach, and defraud their neighbours in civil affairs; and of false teachers, to deceive the hearts of the simple in religious ones. The coming of the man of sin was with all deceivableness; and all the gaudy show and pageantry he makes, and pretended miracles he works, are to deceive the inhabitants of the earth; and by his sorceries all nations are deceived, 2Th 2:10.
o “judicium”, Pagninns, Montanus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5 The thoughts of the righteous are justice,
The counsels of the godless are deceit.
They are so, that is, in their contents and their aim. To the righteous are ascribed , namely, simple and clear; to the godless, , carefully thought out, prudently thought through schemes and measures, but on that very account not simple, because with a tendency; for the righteous have an objective rule, namely, that which is right in the sight of God and of men, but the godless have only a selfish purpose, which they seek to attain by deceiving, and at the cost of, their neighbour.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Note, 1. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and judges them. We mistake if we imagine that thoughts are free. No, they are under the divine cognizance, and therefore under the divine command. 2. We ought to be observers of the thoughts and intents of our own hearts, and to judge of ourselves by them; for they are the first-born of the soul, that have most of its image undisguised. Right thoughts are a righteous man’s best evidences, as nothing more certainly proves a man wicked than wicked contrivances and designs. A good man may have in his mind bad suggestions, but he does not indulge them and harbour them till they are ripened into bad projects and resolutions. 3. It is a man’s honour to mean honestly, and to have his thoughts right, though a word or action may be misplaced, or mistimed, or at least misinterpreted. But it is a man’s shame to lie always at catch, to act with deceit, with trick and design, not only with a long reach, but with an overreach.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Thoughts
Verse 5 evaluates the thoughts (plans and intentions) of the righteous and the wicked. Those of the righteous are adjudged right, because they have been formulated in accord with the counsel of the LORD, as directed in Pro 16:9. The plans of the wicked are declared deceitful because they are designed to best serve their own interests, Pro 15:26; Pro 21:5. Compare 1Ki 12:28; Neh 6:2; Ezr 3:5-8; Mat 2:8; Mat 2:13. This lesson underscores the fact that the LORD; is keenly aware of every thought and plan. All should be submitted to and developed in accord with His counsel, Pro 16:3; Ecc 12:13-14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 12:5. Thoughts, or purposes. Right, judgment, justice.
Pro. 12:7. Wordsworth here reads, When the wicked turn themselves, etc., i.e., on any reverse of their fortunes, however slight, they perish.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPHSPro. 12:5-8
THOUGHTS AND WORDS AND THEIR RESULT
I. The thoughts of the righteous or godly man are right.
1. Because he has the best material out of which to build his thoughts. The kind of building which is reared will depend mainly upon the quarry from which the stones are hewn. The man of God gets the material of his thoughts from the revealed word of God. He obeys the Divine command.This book of the law shall not depart out thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night (Jos. 1:8).
2. Because his thinking is under the rule of law. He does not allow his mind to dwell upon every suggestion that comes into it, he forbids certain things to enter there, or if they enter in an unguarded moment, he will not give them a dwelling place. He does not give unqualified assent to the boast that thought is free. The righteous man does not aspire to be a free-thinker, if he did he could not be a good thinker. He rules his thoughts accordiag to the legislation of Christ (Mat. 5:28; Mat. 15:18), and endeavours to bring every thought into obedience to Him (2Co. 10:5).
II. The speech of the righteous. A mans words are never worse than his thoughts. In a good man they are the outcome of his thoughts. As the child is the undeveloped man, and the seed the undeveloped tree, so thought is the seed of speech. If the childs constitution is good and the seed is good, the man and the tree will be healthy and vigorous. If the thought is healthy and wise the speech will be so likewise, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Mat. 12:34).
III. The thoughts of the wicked. They are such as spring spontaneously from the human heart, which is, according to the estimate of One who knows, deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9). In such a heart counsels or thoughts of deceit must be generated. His own life-work will be a deceit (chap. Pro. 11:18), and he will deceive others. The verse evidently refers to thoughts which purpose harm to other people. When a mans thoughts are not in subjection to the law of God, they have a tendency to go from bad to worse. The ungodly man, either directly or indirectly, injures others as well as himself.
IV. The words of the wicked. The ungodly are here represented, as in chap. Pro. 11:21, as combining to injure the godly (see Homiletics on that verse). Their words are the outcome of their evil and malicious thoughts. Most ungodly men try to lessen the influence of the good by depreciating their character when they do not dare to attack their property and their lives. This lying in wait for blood may cover all schemes to bring about the downfall of the good. The two characters now stand before us. Let us look at what is in store for each. I. For the righteous.
1. Deliverance from the machinations of the wicked. This is effected by means of the godly mans own words. He is able to refute what his enemies bring against him. This proverb cannot of course be taken to assert that the righteous are always delivered from death at the hands of their persecutors. They are delivered as Christ was delivered from the counsels of deceit, and from the bloody plans of the Scribes and Pharisees. The words here used exactly describe their character, and the deliverance of the righteous is such a deliverance as our Lord wrought for Himself by the words of truth and wisdom with which He silenced them. Take the instance of the tribute-money as recorded by Matthew (chap. Pro. 22:15). Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Csar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought Him a penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Csars. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Csar the things which are Csars, and unto God the things which are Gods. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. Two other instances of Christs delivering Himself by His mouth are given in the same chapter. And many of His followers have in like manner defeated the plans of their enemies.
2. The establishment of his family. His thoughts and words bless his own housethey are the means of reproducing other characters whose thoughts and words are like his own. This of itself is a good reason why his house should stand. Each member of it thus becomes a centre of influence for good, and in this way the world is preserved from moral corruption and ruin. And it is a law of Gods kingdom that the godliness of the head of a family or race should bring a blessing upon his posterity. God defended the people of Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah for His servant Davids sake (Isa. 37:35). He blessed Isaac for my servant Abrahams sake (Gen. 26:24). And the same law is at work in New Testament times, The promise is unto you and to your children (Act. 2:39).
3. General commendation. The wise and the righteous are synonymous in the book of Proverbs, the wisdom of the 8th verse is, doubtless, moral wisdom. Paul calls his Corinthian converts, whom he had begotten by his holy thoughts and wise words, his letters of commendation (2Co. 3:1-3). Every godly man has some such commendatory epistles in the living souls whom his life and words have blessed. Men can but acknowledge that he is a blessing to his fellow-creatures while he lives, and after he has left the world he is praised by, and because of, those whom he turned to righteousness (Dan. 12:3). But for the wicked there must be
1. Overthrow. They entered the lists against a power much stronger than their own, and must therefore come to ruin. The stubble of the field can contend for a time against the fire, but the latter grows stronger the longer it burns, and the stubble is less and less able to resist its power, until presently there is nothing left but a few ashes which are soon scattered by the winds, and the place that once knew them knows them no more, For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch (Mal. 4:1).
4. General contempt. The wicked or perverse of heart will not be able to respect himself, how then can he expect others to hold him in honour? And in the day of his overthrow the contempt or indifference with which both he and his fate will be regarded will not come from those whom he has striven to injure, but from those who are like himself. Those who have already met with their overthrow will be those who will meet him with the taunt, Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us? (Isa. 14:10). And those whose time of judgment is yet in the future will not stoop to pity or succour him.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pro. 12:5. That thoughts are free, is his lesson, by whom we are made slaves unto sin. For if the thoughts be corrupted, the affections will soon be polluted, and then the actions are easily perverted. If the flies of Egypt get into our eyes, the frogs of Egypt will soon get into our chambers, the chambers of our hearts, and then the caterpillars of Egypt will soon destroy our fruits, the actions of our lives. The counsels of the wicked are deceitthey deceive God of His honour, their neighbour of his right, themselves of their salvation.Jermin.
The stress lies upon the words, thoughts or purposes, and counsels. Habits of good and evil reach beyond the region of outward act to that of impulse and volition.Plumptre.
To the righteous are ascribed simple and clear thoughts, to the godless, prudently thought through schemes and measures, but on that very account not simple, because of their tendency. Delitzsch.
If good thoughts look into a wicked heart, they stay not there, as those that like not their lodging; the flashes of lightnings may be discerned into the darkest prisons. The light that shines into a holy heart is constant, like that of the sun, which keeps due times, and varies not the course for any of these sublunary occasions.Trapp.
At the first creation man was made to excel brute beasts more by the reason and gifts of the soul than by the fashion and shape of the body, so at the second, a Christian is made to excel sinful men more by the holiness and working of the soul than by those of the body.Dod.
The mere thoughtsthe unpremeditated resolves of a righteous manare right; the deliberate counsels, the very deliberations of the wicked, are deceit.Burgon.
Many indeed are the deviations of the righteous. But there is an overcoming law within that, in despite of all opposition, fixes his thoughts with delight on God and His law (Psa. 139:17-18; Rom. 7:15; Rom. 7:23), and gives to them a single bias for His service. Widely different are the thoughts of the wicked, ripening into counsels fraught with deceit. Such were those of Josephs brethren to deceive their father; of Jeroboam, under a feigned consideration of the people; of Daniels enemies, under pretence of honouring the king; of Herod, under the profession of worshipping the infant Saviour.Bridges.
This verse has been rendered, The policy of the just is honesty; the wisdom of the wicked is cunning. The righteous man deals in rectitude, and from his actions you know his thoughts. It is not so with the wicked. He thinks one way and acts another. His words and deeds are not the fair index of his thoughts.Wardlaw.
The plans of the righteous are a judgment. This word, which is very common in the Bible, means a judicial decision. The judgment of the wicked is a verdict of the Almighty consigning them to hell. The judgment of the righteous, by what Christ has wrought out, is a verdict of eternal reward. The plans of the righteous, however disastrous they may seem, are a judgment. And, as the judgment of the righteous is in his favour, his plans, however bad, are shaped in him for his good. Whatsoever storms they may lead to, they are from a most prosperous verdict, and have been allowed to supervene, for his highest, and well-graduated good. Mark now the climax (as in ch. Pro. 14:11). It says, the plans of the righteous, leaving us to suppose they might be very wretched. But it says the helmsmanship (counsels, see on chap. Pro. 11:14) of the wicked, leaving us to suppose they are very shrewd. The keenest calculations of the wicked, where a cool eye is at the helm, and where instead of marrying a foolish wife (Pro. 12:4), he has built grandly for the world; still, as a judgment, I mean by that, as the whole verdict in his case, his very helmsmanships are a deceit.
(1) His own wisdom cheats him in ordering his life; and
(2) God Himself, as a part of His award, takes care that he be deceived as to his total well-being.Miller.
Pro. 12:6. The law of parallelism leaves it open to us to refer the pronoun at the end of the verse to the righteous themselves, or to those, the unwary and innocent, for whom the words of the wicked lie in wait.Plumptre.
The fiercer ebullitions of humanity may, indeed, be softened down and restrained. But the principle remains the same. The fiery elements only lie in slumbering cover, and often break out, wasting the very face of society.Bridges.
The words. Speech is the great instrument of man. Talking is his trade. Wall Street and Lombard Street make their fortunes by the tongue. The words of the wicked are, therefore, their highest activities, and our proverb declares that these high acts are a lying in wait for blood. We would not deny that this may include the blood of others; but in the light of the last verse the grand victim is themselves (chap. Pro. 1:18). Each order on change is for a mans last discomfiture.Miller.
Though nature hath denied man the weapons of his teeth, yet wickedness giveth to some such words as are more bloody than the teeth of the most bloody beasts. The false witness will frame his tale so cunningly as if he intended nothing but a clearing of the truth, whereas he seeketh nothing but the shedding of blood. The corrupt judge will couch his words so closely, as if he meant nothing but to have justice executed, whereas they are nothing but ambushments to surprise innocent blood. But there are words which issue from the mouth of the upright, as making a sally out of some adjoining fort, whereby the prey is rescued, the pillagers are defeated, the innocent is delivered, the upright as victorious is crowned with the diadem of his judgment as in Job it is called (ch. Pro. 29:14); and which St. Gregory saith is rightly called a diadem, because by the glory of an excellent work it leadeth to the crown of a glorious reward. Now such were the words of Jobs mouth, who brake the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth, being eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, and a father to the poor.Jermin.
The prayers of Gods people ascend up to Gods presence for His help, and those mouths prevail mightily that seek for redress of wrong at His hands. Herod thought it would be too late for all the friends which Peter had to minister help to him when he had clapped him in prison. But he remembered not how swift the godly be to prayer and how soon a prayer can come to God.Dod.
Pro. 12:7. The persons of the wicked are overthrown and are not, the house of the righteous (the very roof that sheltered him) shall stand.Burgon.
He that is strong may be overthrown and may rise again, he that riseth not to what he was may rise in part to something, he that riseth not at all, may lie where he has fallen; but in the overthrow of the wicked all hope is gone of anything, for they themselves are nothing. They were not in goodness, they are not by their wickedness. They are not to be recovered from their overthrow, because they are not changed to repentance by their overthrow. On the other side, not only the righteous shall stand, their family, their posterity shall stand, for God shall stand by them, and then no fear of falling can be unto them.Jermin.
When a change of the estate of the ungodly is made from prosperity unto adversity, their utter destruction is commonly wrought, for their house being built upon the sand, the tempests and the winds arise and quite overthrow it. The whole manner of the overthrow is described in Job. 18:15.Muffet.
The righteous shall have a place in the Lords house, immovable here (Isa. 56:4-5), and in eternity (Rev. 3:12).Bridges.
Solomon had a signal exemplification of this in the case of Saul and his father David. Possibly this instance might be in his eye at the time.Wardlaw.
Eventually there must be overthrow, even if it be no overthrow but death. When the wicked do fall, there is positively nothing of them left. While in the deepest disasters of the righteous, nothing is not left. His house, and by that is meant every possible real interest (1Sa. 2:35) shall stand for ever.Miller.
Pro. 12:8. Sometimes, and very often, the wicked shall commend him, commonly the righteous, and always the Lord Himself, but most of all at the last day, before all men and angels. They that are not void of uprightness shall not be destitute of praise and honour. Though some be blind that they cannot discern their understanding and graces, yet others have their eyesight and behold them. Though some be dumb and will not speak of their virtues, yet others have their lips open to commend them.Dod.
And all wisdom consists in this, that a man rightly know and worship God. Apollonius, Archimedes, and Aristotle were wise in their generations, and so accounted, but by whom? Not by St. Paul, he hath another opinion of them (Rom. 1:22). Not by our Saviour (Mat. 11:25).Trapp.
Accordingin exact proportion; such is the meaning of the Hebrew. A man is more applauded for good sense than perhaps anything else. Wisdomshrewdness; that attribute that leads to success. Therefore it sometimes means success (2Ki. 18:7). Successful shrewdness is a very positive sort. Such is the shrewdness of the righteous man (Pro. 12:7). Perverse heartcrooked sense, literally heart; though heart contains more of sense () than we ascribe to it. If a man whose mind works crookedly every time becomes an object of contempt, why ought not the wicked to become so, whose very helmsmanships are a deceit? (Pro. 12:5).Miller.
How thrilling will be the commendation of wisdom before the assembled universe! (Luk. 12:42-44). Who will not then acknowledge the wise choice of an earthly cross with a heavenly crown?Bridges.
This is capable of two interpretations. It may refer to commendation by men, or to commendation by God. In the one case it may mean mere secular discretions, in the other it must mean religious principle, according to the invariable testimony that the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. This is not the wisdom that secures the eulogy of men; but it will ever secure that of the Infinitely Wise, the Infinitely Good. And, indeed, the two things may be united. A man who fears God will always be a faithful counsellor, and if at the same time he have sound discretion in regard to the affairs of life, this will form the perfection of character, and there will be commendation both from men and God. In the pride of your hearts, you may affect to hold very cheap the contempt of men; though even that is often more pretension than reality, disappointment rankling at the heart, while scorn is curling the lip. But what must it be to be lightly esteemed at last, to be despised by that God who has in his hands the destinies of the universe!Wardlaw.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(5) The thoughts of the righteous are right.Or, justice. (Comp. Mat. 12:35.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Thoughts righteous Their purposes, intentions, accord with justice, or a judicial decision; that is, are like unto one. They meditate, and intend nothing but what is right.
The counsels , tahhbuloth, (comp. Pro 1:5; Pro 11:14,) the governing principles, of the wicked are deceit. Are intended to deceive. Tahhbuloth is the same word which in Pro 1:5, is translated wise counsels. See note there.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Progress in One’s Pursuit of Good and Evil – Pro 12:5-7 has a progression of thought, revealing the degree of progress in one’s pursuit of good and evil. A righteous man’s thoughts are to do good to others (Pro 12:5) and this is put into action by his willingness to deliver others from their sins and bondages (Pro 12:6). The outcome is that this man shall be established in the land (Pro 12:7). When his heart is right (spiritual realm), then he speaks good words (mental realm), which results in a long and prosperous life (physical and financial). Thus, he is blessed in every area of his life.
In contrast, the wicked intend on deceiving others for selfish reasons (Pro 12:5) and will go so far as destroying others in order to benefit himself (Pro 12:6). The outcome is that the wicked will soon be overthrown and destroyed in his wickedness (Pro 12:7). When his heart is evil (spiritual realm), then he speaks evil words (mental realm), which results in a shorter and difficult life (physical and financial). Thus, he is cursed in every area of his life.
Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Pro 12:5
Comments – This noun clear stands in direct contrast to the “counsels” of the wicked in this same verse.
Word Study on “right” Gesenius says the Hebrew word “judgment” ( ) (H4941) means, “judgment, right, that which is just, lawful, according to law.” Strong says it means, “a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or [participant’s] divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant’s right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style,” and it comes from the primitive root ( ) (H8199) meaning, “to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extension, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively).” The Enhanced Strong says it is used it is used 421 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “judgment 296, manner 38, right 18, cause 12, ordinance 11, lawful 7, order 5, worthy 3, fashion 3, custom 2, discretion 2, law 2, measure 2, sentence 2, misc 18.” This Hebrew word is used 20 times in the book of Proverbs.
Comments – Within the context of this verse, it means that the plans of the righteous are right decisions, or decisions that are intended to do good to others.
Comments – A man who is born again by the Spirit of God has good thoughts and intents because the Spirit now dwells in him and is guiding him towards good things.
Php 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Therefore, the righteous man delights in the things of God whether he walks in them or fails. Either way, he desires to do good over evil.
Rom 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”
Pro 12:5 “but the counsels of the wicked are deceit” Comments – Counsels are words that are intended to lead others. But to the wicked, it becomes an opportunity to deceive. Therefore, deceit characterizes the wicked in many other Scriptures.
Psa 12:2, “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”
Psa 140:1-2, (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.”
Jer 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
2Co 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
The coming of the antichrist during the Tribulation will be characterized by deceitfulness.
2Th 2:9-10, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2Jn 1:7, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
Rev 13:14, “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”
Pro 12:5 Comments – The contrast in Pro 12:5 is very clear. The plans and intents of the righteous are to do good and benefit others, while the plans of the wicked are to deceive others so that he can benefit. This verse helps us to realize why a Christian is not to join an unbeliever in marriage, business or other forms of agreement and unity.
2Co 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
A child of God will base his decisions upon things that are good and righteous before God while a wicked man based his decisions upon deceit and manipulation.
Pro 12:5 Scripture References – Note similar verses:
Pro 11:23, “The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.”
Mat 12:34-35, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
Pro 12:6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Pro 12:6
Psa 10:7-8, “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.”
Isa 59:7, “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.”
Jer 5:26-27, “For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.”
Mic 7:2, “The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.”
We have seen this person in the opening chapter of Proverbs, as he attempts to entice the simple ones to follow him.
Pro 1:11-12, “If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:”
The Pharisees laid in wait for the blood of Jesus by attempting Him to either blaspheme God so they could condemn Him, or by speaking against Caesar so that the Romans would kill Him.
Luk 11:53-54, “And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.”
Luk 20:21-23, “And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?”
They later tried to deceive the Romans into bringing Paul to a certain place so that they might kill him (Act 23:12-15; Act 25:1-3).
Act 23:15, “Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.”
Act 25:2-3, “Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.”
Pro 12:6 “but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them” Comments – The righteous will speak up for those who are treated unjustly.
Pro 31:8-9, “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Mordecai and Esther spoke up to the king in order to deliver their people from destruction, and the wicked deceit of Haman was overthrown as a result.
Pro 12:6 Comments – The contrast is clearly seen in the fact that the words of the wicked are intended to destroy those who believe them, while the words of the righteous are intended to bless others and deliver them from problems in their lives.
Pro 12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Pro 12:7
Pro 12:7 “but the house of the righteous shall stand” Comments – Even after the death of the righteous, his house will stand. For he has established a good word on this earth that will endure. The blessings of the Lord will pass upon his children and those lives whom he has touched. This is an enduring house because it is built in the hearts of men, and not of brick and stone. For example, the churches that Paul established were not built of brick and mortar, but in the hearts of those whom he converted to Christ Jesus.
2Co 3:3, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
The house the Paul and the apostles built, the early Church, stood against all the fury of Rome, against centuries of persecutions. This house will one day be established upon this earth as Jesus Christ returns to set up His earthly kingdom and the wicked will be no more.
Pro 12:7 Comments – The contrast seen in the fact that when the wicked are overthrown, there is no remnant or existence of their lives. They have forever come to an end. In contrast, the righteous will be established forever. Even after death, their house still stands because of the good works they have established on this earth.
God has a divine way of bringing to an end the generation of the wicked, but causing the righteous to flourish and prosper from generation to generation. The Lord brought judgment upon several kings of Israel by cutting off their seed in the fourth generation. In contrast, the Lord established the throne of David forever.
2Sa 7:15-16, “But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”
Scripture References – Note similar verses.
Psa 37:10-11, “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Psa 37:35-38, “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Psa 73:18-19, “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”
Pro 10:25, “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.”
Pro 14:11, “The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright.”
Pro 15:25, “The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.”
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
v. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] right: [but] the counsels of the wicked [are] deceit.
Ver. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right. ] He feeds his thoughts upon the best objects, those especially mentioned in that little Bible, Phi 4:8 , “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these Things.”if worse break in, as they will, he jostles them out, and rids the room of them. See Trapp on “ Pro 11:23 “
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thoughts = plans.
right = just (as to their character). Illustrations: David (1Sa 23:9; 1Sa 26:8-11); Daniel (Dan 1:8; Dan 6:4); Nuthanael (Joh 1:47).
counsels = steerings, or directions. Illustrations: Korah (Num 16); Jeroboam (1Ki 12:28. Compare Pro 12:26); the prophet of Beth-el (1Ki 13:18. Compare Pro 11:9); Sanballat (Neh 6:2); Haman (Est 3:5, Est 3:6, Est 3:8); Ishmael (Jer 40:14); Herod (Mat 2:8, Mat 2:16); Pharisees (Mat 22:15, Mat 22:16); Judas (Joh 12:4-6).
the wicked = lawless ones.
deceit = deception. Hebrew. ramah. See note on Pro 11:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 12:5
Pro 12:5
“The thoughts of the righteous are just; But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.”
“Honest people will treat you fairly; the wicked only want to deceive you.” “Good people are fair and honest in the things they plan to do. But don’t trust the things an evil person tells you.” Some of the renditions are surprising.
Pro 12:5. Everyone has thoughts. The righteous persons thoughts reflect righteous thinking (just), but wicked peoples thoughts (counsels expressed in advice) are deceit and not sincere.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
thoughts: Pro 11:23, Pro 24:9, Psa 119:15, Psa 139:23, Isa 55:7, Jer 4:14
counsels: Psa 12:2, Psa 12:3, Psa 36:2-4, Psa 41:6, Psa 41:7, Psa 140:1-3, Mat 2:3-8, Mat 2:16, Mat 26:4, 1Co 4:5, 2Co 4:2
Reciprocal: Gen 49:6 – come 1Ki 12:14 – the counsel 2Ch 10:14 – the advice 2Ch 22:4 – they were his Pro 26:24 – deceit Mat 1:20 – while
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 12:5-7. The thoughts of the righteous are right His constant purpose is to be upright before God, and just and true in all his dealings with men. But the counsels of the wicked are deceit His great care and contrivance are to deceive and wrong others by fair pretence and cunning artifices. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait, &c. Are designed and ordered to entrap or deceive others, and to destroy them; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them Namely, from those that lie in wait for them: either, 1st, By prayer to God for their deliverance; or, 2d, By bearing witness for them, and pleading their righteous cause, with such wisdom and arguments as cannot be gainsaid. The wicked are overthrown, and are not They and their families shall suddenly perish; but the house The family and posterity, of the righteous shall stand On a firm basis, notwithstanding the attempts of their enemies to overthrow them. They shall stand when they that assaulted them are quite extinct.