“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
 Nor stand in the path of sinners,
 Nor sits in the seat of scoffers!”  Psalm 1:1

Concerning the godly man, verse 1 states the negative.  Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his book, “True Happiness” says, “The Bible hurls a negative at us at the very beginning like this in order to tell us that God’s way of life and of salvation is entirely and essentially different from all we have ever known.”

With this in mind, let’s look into wicked counsel and evil associations.

Some examples of wicked counsel:
“Behold these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to
 trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among 
 the congregation of the LORD.”  Numbers 31:16
(Read the whole incident of the slaughter of Midian, Vs. 1-20)

2 Chronicles 10:10-11 tells of King Rheoboam following evil counsel over the wise counsel of the elders.
“And the young men who grow up with him spoke to him saying, ‘Thus you 
 shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our
 yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’  Thus you shall say to them, 
 ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins!  
 Where as my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Job 2:9 tells of Job’s wife’s counsel,
“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity?  Curse
 God and die.’”

As for evil associations, the Scripture gives many warnings as in the wise instruction of a father to his son in Proverbs 1:8-19.  Read the whole section
For the rich and wise counsel.

Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us,
“Do not enter the path of the wicked,
 And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
 Turn away from it and pass on,”

“Do not be envious of evil men,
 Nor desire to be with them;
 For their minds devise violence,
 And their lips talk of trouble.”  Proverbs 24:1

Did you notice the progression in Psalm 1:1?  The godly man does not pass by the way of evil because he may be enticed to stand and look, then before he knows it he will be sitting down in the midst of sin.  (We need to take heed of this!)

Look at King David, 2 Samuel 11:1-5 to see the progression.  (Read it for the full picture.)
Vs. 1 “…David stayed in Jerusalem.”  Idleness!
Vs. 2 “…David walked around the roof…and he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.”  Stopped to look!
Vs. 3 “So David sent and inquired about her…”  Fantasized?!
Vs. 4 “…He lay with her…”  Acted!

As someone has said, “Sin starts in the mind and the feet follow!”  The thoughts will come; do not entertain them, but quickly turn your mind to Philippians 4:8:
“…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

Therefore, when you come to a crossroad: stand, look, ask for the good way and walk in it!

The Lord is our refuge and our strength may our hearts always be open to His leading and guiding in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen