10:28

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

28a
The hope of the righteous is joy,

28b but the expectations of the wicked will perish.

The parallel lines imply that the righteous will receive what they hope for. By contrast, what the wicked hope for will not be fulfilled.

10:28a

The hope of the righteous is joy: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “The hope of the righteous joy.” It refers to what righteous people hope/long for in the future. There are two ways to interpret this sentence:

(1) What the righteous hope for leads to or results in joy. For example:

The hopes of the godly result in happiness (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) What the righteous hope for is joy. For example:

The hope of the upright is joy (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is clear from other verses that righteous people hope for various things, including justice, peace, and the LORD’s blessings. When these hopes are fulfilled, the result is that the righteous will be joyful. Interpretation (1) also provides a better parallel to 10:28b.

10:28b

but the expectations of the wicked will perish: Some other ways to translate this clause are:

but an evil person can expect nothing (New Century Version)
-or-
but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled (NET Bible)

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