11:23

The parallel words “desire” and “hope” are similar in meaning. The other parallel parts contrast in meaning.

23a
The desire of the righteous leads only to good,

23b but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.

11:23a–b

The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath: In Hebrew, this verse is literally “Desire of righteous ⌊people⌋ only good, hope of wicked ⌊people⌋ wrath.” There are two ways to interpret this verse:

(1) What righteous people desire results only in good. What wicked people hope for results only in wrath. For example:

23a What good people want always results in good (Good News Translation)
-or-
23b but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury (God’s Word)

(2) Righteous people desire to bring good to others. Wicked people plot to bring trouble to others. For example:

23a Those who do right only wish for good (New Century Version)

23b but troublemakers hope to stir up trouble (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. Some reasons are:

(a) The words desire and hope are synonyms. Both refer to what a person desires, hopes for, or longs to have happen. It seems unlikely that the wicked hope to experience wrath. It is more likely that both the righteous and the wicked desire good results. The contrast is that the desires/hopes of the righteous are fulfilled, but those of the wicked are not fulfilled.

(b) Interpretation (1) is supported by similar statements in Proverbs 10:24, 10:28, and 11:7.

only: In Hebrew, this word occurs in 11:23a. It does not occur in 11:23b. Some versions, such as the New International Version, also make it explicit in 11:23b because they feel that it is implied by the parallelism. Other versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not make it explicit. You may do whatever is natural in your language.

brings wrath: The word wrath implies a fierce, overwhelming anger that destroys its object. (Also see the note on 11:4a–b.) There are two ways to interpret the wrath that is referred to here:

(1) It refers to the wrath of the LORD. For example:

but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God’s anger (New Century Version)

(2) It refers to the wrath of people. For example:

when the wicked get what they want, everyone is angry (Good News Translation)

Most English versions do not specify the one whose wrath is referred to. If your language requires this to be made explicit, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. In most OT references where this word for wrath is used, it refers to divine wrath.

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