Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Parallel translations
- WEB Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
- BSB Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
- NKJV Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
- NASB Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
- NLT Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Deceit fills the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy comes to those who promote peace. Peacemaking brings gladness; scheming breeds deception.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the deceitful hearts of evil plotters with the joy belonging to those who counsel and pursue peace. Inner character produces either treachery or gladness. This points toward the blessedness Christ pronounced on peacemakers, who are called children of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- 1 Pet 3:8–13Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
- Jer 17:16As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
- Prov 26:24–26He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
- Prov 12:12The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
- Zech 6:13Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
- Mark 7:21–22For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
- Heb 12:14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
- Isa 9:6–7For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- Rom 1:29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
- Mark 12:14–17And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 12:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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