Verses 12-19 form a unit in which verse 12b opens with “a desire fulfilled” and verse 19a closes with the same expression. Verses 13 and 18 assert that destruction results from ignoring instruction. Verses 14-15 are parallel and teach that wisdom saves people from death and destruction. Verses 16-17 are parallel to each other, showing that a person’s character is revealed in his or her conduct.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick”: For comments on “Hope” see 10.28. “Deferred” translates the passive form of a verb whose basic meaning is to drag or draw, as in a long-drawn-out process. In this line it refers to a “Hope” whose fulfillment is delayed or postponed. Anything “deferred” involves waiting and expectation. “Heart” in this expression represents not just the mental or emotional center but rather the whole person. “Makes the heart sick” is a figurative expression that means “causes a person to despair or be afflicted.” Note Good News Translation “heart is crushed.”
“But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life”: As in 10.24 “desire” refers to something positive that is wanted or looked forward to, and is closely parallel to “Hope” in line 1. “Fulfilled” here means to bring the things desired into effect, or to realize them. For “a tree of life” see discussion of this expression at 3.18. In this line “a tree of life” may be used as in 11.30, or we may say with Bible en français courant “is a fountain of life.” Other possibilities are “gives new life” and “fills you with new life.” Contemporary English Version says “is a life-giving tree.” See also Good News Translation.
In some languages it is not natural to use qualities such as “Hope” and “desire” as the subjects of clauses. The verse may be restructured to say, for example, “If a person thinks about getting something but has to wait a long time for it, he will be very sad. But if he gets that thing, then he will think life is good and feel very happy.”
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 .