Proverbs 10:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

NIV: The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

NASB: The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

CSB: The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

NLT: The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

KJV: The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

NKJV: The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

According to this verse, righteous men and women experience trials, but they do not have any reason to despair. They know their trials will end someday (Romans 8:18; Revelation 21:1–4). They hope for that day, and their hope enables them to be joyful despite difficult circumstances (Hebrews 11:13–16). Those who rely on themselves, or lies, rather than God, are doomed to disappointment and condemnation (John 3:36).

Paul's letter to the Philippians has been referred to often as "the joy epistle." The words "joy" and "rejoice" occur often in Philippians. It is noteworthy that Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote Philippians, but he retained a steadfast hope that someday he would depart this life and be with Jesus (Philippians 1:20–21). The apostle James writes in James 1:2: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." And Peter assures us that God "has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

Believers rejoice because they have an endless hope, but Solomon observes that the wicked have a hopeless end. Eventually, those who reject God will find themselves lost and eternally separated from Him (Matthew 16:26).

Proverbs 10:11–32 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, focusing on their different speech patterns, their different lifestyles, their different attitudes, and their different destinies. Verses 21 through 27 are especially focused on the different results which can be expected from pursuing godliness, versus pursuing sin.

This chapter begins 375 "proverbs," which are general-case lessons or observations. These wise remarks continue the discussion of wisdom and wickedness begun in chapters 1—9. Most of the verses in chapter 10 contain a sharp contrast, with the conjunction "but" separating the lines. Often, the subject changes from verse to verse. The contrasting subjects include sons, treasure, work ethic, reputation, relationships, success, and speech.

In Proverbs 7—9 Solomon contrasts wisdom and wickedness in the symbolic persons of Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly. He calls upon his sons, or students, to choose wisdom, and he points out the benefits of choosing wisdom and the disastrous results of choosing wickedness. Chapter 10 presents vivid contrasts between wisdom and wickedness in many of life's settings. These comparisons continue into chapter 11.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.