“The hope of the righteous ends in gladness”: The Hebrew is literally “The hope of the righteous [is] gladness.” “Hope” renders a word based on the verb meaning to wait and has here the sense of waiting with expectation and trust in God’s deliverance. Revised Standard Version has supplied “ends in”, which suggests the outcome of the hope held by the righteous. Good News Translation is the same with “leads to joy.” It is also possible to take “gladness” as the content of the expectation of the good person. In this sense these people have a positive or optimistic view of the future. We may, therefore, also translate “The hope of good people is their joy” or “Good people have hope and this gives them happiness.”

“But the expectation of the wicked comes to nought”: “Expectation” renders another word for hope. This word does not contrast with the “hope” (expectation with trust) in the first line. It is sometimes possible to say, for example, “But what the wicked look forward to. . .” or “But the things the wicked hope for. . ..” “Comes to nought” translates a verb meaning to perish or die. Bible en français courant says “the hopes of the wicked lead to nothing.” Some other translations say “What the wicked hope to receive never comes.” See also Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .