The Meaning of Proverbs 10:28 Explained

Proverbs 10:28

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

YLT: The hope of the righteous is joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.

Darby: The hope of the righteous is joy; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

ASV: The hope of the righteous'shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 10:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 10:17-32 - The Blessing Of The Lord Maketh Rich
Let us specially avoid talking too much. Silence is golden. See Proverbs 10:19. Yet the tongue of the just is as choice silver and the lips of the righteous feed many, Proverbs 10:20-21. When we speak, let us say something and let the people to whom we speak feel that their heart is lighter and that the heavenly horizons are nearer and clearer. Whatever you do, beware of uttering slander, Proverbs 10:18. You know, by your own experience, what is acceptable; see to it that your mouth brings forth wisdom and grace, Proverbs 10:31-32.
But this portion of Scripture deals, not only with the speech of the good man, but with his stability. The blessing of God is upon him, enriching him in all manner of ways; and there is no alloy in this gold, no bitterness in God's love, Proverbs 10:22. The desire of the righteous is granted, because it is begotten of the divine Spirit. He is built on the Everlasting Rock, Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 10:30. His hope is gladness, Proverbs 10:28. As he walks in God's way, he gathers strength, Proverbs 10:29. Though he fall he is not utterly cast down; for God succors him with His saving strength, Psalms 37:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 10

1  Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices

What do the individual words in Proverbs 10:28 mean?

The hope of the righteous [will be] gladness but the expectation of the wicked will perish
תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת צַדִּיקִ֣ים שִׂמְחָ֑ה וְתִקְוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד

תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת  The  hope 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תֹּוחֶלֶת  
Sense: hope.
צַדִּיקִ֣ים  of  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
שִׂמְחָ֑ה  [will  be]  gladness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
וְתִקְוַ֖ת  but  the  expectation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תִּקְוָה 
Sense: cord.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
תֹּאבֵֽד  will  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.