Proverbs 10:28
Proverbs 10:28 in Multiple Translations
The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow.
Good people look forward to happiness, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse: but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The expectation of the just is joy; but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
Righteous people confidently expect that good things will happen to them, and that causes them to be happy/joyful; but when wicked people confidently expect something good to happen, it does not happen.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 10:28
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 10:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
שִׂמְחָ֑ה
וְ/תִקְוַ֖ת
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
תֹּאבֵֽד
תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת
tôwcheleth
H8431
hope
N-fs
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
righteous
Adj
שִׂמְחָ֑ה
simchâh
H8057
joy
N-fs
וְ/תִקְוַ֖ת
tiqvâh
H8615
cord
Conj | N-fs
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Adj
תֹּאבֵֽד
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 10:28
תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת
tôwcheleth
H8431
"hope"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means hope or expectation, referring to a feeling of trust and confidence in something or someone. It is about looking forward to a positive outcome.
Definition: hope
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: hope. See also: Job 41:1; Proverbs 11:7; Psalms 39:8.
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
"righteous"
Adj
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Definition: 1) just, lawful, righteous 1a) just, righteous (in government) 1b) just, right (in one's cause) 1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character) 1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God) 1e) right, correct, lawful
Usage: Occurs in 197 OT verses. KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man). See also: Genesis 6:9; Proverbs 10:31; Psalms 1:5.
שִׂמְחָ֑ה
simchâh
H8057
"joy"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means joy or gladness, often used to describe a happy occasion or celebration, like a festival. It's used in the Bible to express God's joy and pleasure. In the KJV, it's translated as joy, gladness, or mirth.
Definition: 1) joy, mirth, gladness 1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure 1b) joy (of God) 1c) glad result, happy issue
Usage: Occurs in 89 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing). See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 106:5; Psalms 4:8.
וְ/תִקְוַ֖ת
tiqvâh
H8615
"cord"
Conj | N-fs
In Hebrew, this word for hope means a cord that attaches or expectancy, like waiting for something to happen. It appears in the Bible as a feeling of expectation or a thing someone longs for. The KJV translates it as hope or expectation.
Definition: cord
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: expectation(-ted), hope, live, thing that I long for. See also: Joshua 2:18; Psalms 62:6; Psalms 9:19.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
תֹּאבֵֽד
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 10:28
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 10:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 10:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 10:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 10:28
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
- Sermons on Proverbs 10:28
Context — Solomon’s Proverbs: The Wise Son
26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.
27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
28The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
29The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil. 30The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 8:13 | Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. |
| 2 | Romans 15:13 | Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. |
| 3 | Psalms 73:24–26 | You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. |
| 4 | Proverbs 11:7 | When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes. |
| 5 | Proverbs 14:32 | The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death. |
| 6 | Job 11:20 | But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.” |
| 7 | Romans 12:12 | Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. |
| 8 | Romans 5:2 | through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. |
| 9 | Psalms 112:10 | The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish. |
| 10 | 2 Thessalonians 2:16 | Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, |
Proverbs 10:28 Summary
This verse says that when we trust in God and do what is right, we can expect to experience joy and happiness. On the other hand, when we do what is wrong and don't trust in God, our plans and desires will ultimately fail (as seen in Proverbs 21:25). It's like the difference between building on a strong foundation, as mentioned in Matthew 7:24-27, or building on sand. When we trust in God, we can have confidence that our hopes and dreams are rooted in something solid and true, and that brings us joy. By putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we can experience this joy and have a deep sense of peace, as stated in Romans 5:1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the hope of the righteous to be joy?
The hope of the righteous being joy means that those who trust in God have a confident expectation of a happy future, as seen in Psalm 16:11, where it says that in God's presence is fullness of joy.
Will the wicked really perish in their expectations?
Yes, according to Proverbs 10:28, the expectations of the wicked will perish, meaning their plans and desires will ultimately come to nothing, as also warned in Proverbs 21:25, where it says the desires of the wicked will lead to their destruction.
How can we be sure we are righteous and not wicked?
We can be sure we are righteous by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and following His teachings, as stated in Romans 3:22, where it says that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
Is this verse saying that only the righteous experience joy?
No, this verse is saying that the hope of the righteous is joy, implying that their deepest desires and expectations are rooted in their trust in God, which leads to a deep and lasting joy, as seen in Galatians 5:22, where joy is listed as a fruit of the Spirit.
Reflection Questions
- What are my deepest hopes and expectations, and are they rooted in my trust in God?
- In what ways do I see the joy of the righteous playing out in my own life, and how can I cultivate more of it?
- How do I currently respond to the wicked or ungodly around me, and what can I learn from this verse about their ultimate fate?
- What are some ways I can practically live out my faith and trust in God's goodness, even in difficult circumstances?
- How does this verse encourage me to persevere in my faith, even when the world around me seems dark or uncertain?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness,.... Or, "[is] gladness" (w); it is now attended with joy; he has a pleasure in the exercise of the grace of hope as to future things; he rejoices in
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The hope of the righteous (shall be) gladness - i:e., shall have a glad and joyful issue.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
Shall be gladness; though at present it be mixed with doubts, and fears, and disappointments, yet at last it shall be accomplished, and turned into enjoyment. Shall perish; shall be utterly frustrated, and so end in sorrow.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.Ver. 28. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.] The righteous doth not so fear God, but that he hopes in him also; - see Psalms 130:4-5 : - and that with such a hope as "maketh not ashamed." Deo confisi nunquam confusi: "The righteous hath hope in his death"; his motto is, Cum expiro, spero; - My hope lasts beyond life. But the expectations of the wicked.] As Esau came from hunting, with his head full of hopes, but went away with his heart full of blanks, and his face full of blushing.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
Verse 28. The expectation of the wicked shall perish.] A wicked man is always imposing on himself by the hope of God's mercy and final happiness; and he continues hoping, till he dies without receiving that mercy which alone would entitle him to that glory.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 10:28
Transpose “hope” and “expectation.” The expectant waiting of the righteous is joyful at the time, and ends in joy: the eager hope of the wicked comes to nought.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 10:28
28. Shall be gladness — Shall be fulfilled, and so produce gladness. Compare Proverbs 11:7; Job 8:13; Job 11:20; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 119; Romans 8:24; Romans 5:2; Romans 12:12; Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 3:2-3.
Sermons on Proverbs 10:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Sacred Anchor by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the Christian's chief happiness being in the future, looking for the blessed hope of heaven. He emphasizes the act of 'looking' with desire, joy, and p |
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Hope by William Cowper | William Cowper preaches about the transformative power of hope in the face of despair and the importance of genuine faith in God's mercy and grace. He contrasts the emptiness of wo |
|
The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the Hope of the Righteous by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the objects, grounds, and evidences of the hope of the righteous in contrast to the despair of the wicked in death. He emphasizes the importance of hav |
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The Hypocrite's Hope by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the futility of the hypocrite's hope, warning that those who live in sin and presume upon God's grace without true repentance face dire consequences. He ci |
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Epistle 229 by George Fox | George Fox preaches about the importance of living in the spirit rather than the flesh, emphasizing the need to set our affections on heavenly things and subject our souls to the h |
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A Time to Do Nothng but Trust by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Jonathan and the Israelites facing a massive army of Philistines. The Israelites were greatly outnumbered and lacked weapons, lea |
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How to Get on Fire for God by Ray Comfort | In this sermon, the preacher discusses three keys to getting on fire for God. The first key is faith, which is described as believing in the promises of God and finding joy and pea |