10:24

The underlined parallel parts and the parts in bold print contrast in meaning. The parts in italics are similar in meaning.

24a What the wicked man dreads will overtake him ;

24b but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

The main contrast is between the verbs “dreads” and “desire.” The wicked get what they dread. The righteous get what they desire.

The proverb does not make explicit what wicked people fear or what righteous people desire.

10:24a

What the wicked man dreads will overtake him: In Hebrew, the phrase will overtake him is literally “will come to him.” This is a figure of speech (personification). It means that what the wicked person dreads or fears is going to happen to him. Some other ways to express the meaning are:

What evil people dread most will happen to them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The fears of the wicked will all come true (New Living Translation (1996))

10:24b

but the desire of the righteous will be granted: In Hebrew, this line begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as but. Some versions like the New International Version make this word implicit. Express this contrast in a natural way in your language.

will be granted: This is a passive verb. If it is not natural to use a passive verb here, other ways to translate it are:

• Use an active verb. For example:

but righteous people will get/receive what they want most

• Use an active verb and supply “the LORD” as the subject. For example:

but ⌊the Lord ⌋ grants the desire of righteous people (God’s Word)

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