Proverbs 10:28

10:28 The hope ¹  of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled. ² 

Proverbs 11:7

11:7 When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, ³ 

and the hope of his strength ⁴  perishes. ⁵ 

Proverbs 13:12

13:12 Hope ⁶  deferred ⁷  makes the heart sick, ⁸ 

but a longing fulfilled ⁹  is like ¹⁰  a tree of life.

Proverbs 23:18

23:18 For surely there is a future, ¹¹ 

and your hope will not be cut off. ¹² 

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¹ sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.

² tn Heb “will perish”; NAB “comes to nought.”

³ tn The first colon features an imperfect tense depicting habitual action, while the second has a perfect tense verb depicting gnomic action.

sn The subject of this proverb is the hope of the wicked, showing its consequences – his expectations die with him (Ps 49). Any hope for long life and success borne of wickedness will be disappointed.

⁴ tc There are several suggested changes for this word אוֹנִים (’onim, “vigor” or “strength”). Rashi, a Jewish scholar who lived a.d. 1040-1105, suggests that the word refers to children, a meaning implied from Gen 49:3. This would mean that even his children would not benefit from his wickedness. Tg. Prov 11:7 rendered it “who practice crookedness,” deriving it from the first root which means “wickedness.”

⁵ tc The LXX adds an antithesis to this: “When the righteous dies, hope does not perish.” The LXX translators wanted to see the hope of the righteous fulfilled in the world to come.

⁶ sn The word “hope” (תּוֹחֶלֶת [tokhelet] from יָחַל [yakhal]) also has the implication of a tense if not anxious wait.

⁷ tn The verb is the Pual participle from מָשַׁךְ (mashakh,“to draw; to drag”).

⁸ sn Failure in realizing one’s hopes can be depressing or discouraging. People can bear frustration only so long (W. G. Plaut, Proverbs, 153).

⁹ tn Heb “a desire that comes”; cf. CEV “a wish that comes true.”

¹⁰ tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.

¹¹ tn Heb “end” (so KJV); ASV “a reward.”

¹² sn The saying is an understatement; far from being cut off, the “hope” will be realized in the end. So this saying, the thirteenth, advises people to be zealous for the fear of the Lord, their religion, rather than for anything that sinners have to offer.