Proverbs 11:23
Proverbs 11:23 in Multiple Translations
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the righteous is only good; But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
The desire of the righteous is onely good: but the hope of the wicked is indignation.
The desire of the righteous [is] only good, The hope of the wicked [is] transgression.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
When the things that righteous people want happen, it brings good to them and to others, but when the wicked get what they want, it causes everyone else to become angry.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 11:23
BAB
Word Study
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Proverbs 11:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תַּאֲוַ֣ת
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
אַךְ
ט֑וֹב
תִּקְוַ֖ת
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
עֶבְרָֽה
תַּאֲוַ֣ת
taʼăvâh
H8378
desire
N-fs
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
righteous
Adj
אַךְ
ʼak
H389
surely
DirObjM
ט֑וֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
pleasant
Adj
תִּקְוַ֖ת
tiqvâh
H8615
cord
N-fs
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Adj
עֶבְרָֽה
ʻebrâh
H5678
fury
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 11:23
תַּאֲוַ֣ת
taʼăvâh
H8378
"desire"
N-fs
This word means desire or longing, and can refer to a positive or negative yearning. In the Bible, it is used to describe the desires of the heart, as seen in Psalm 38:9. It can also imply a delight or satisfaction.
Definition: 1) desire 1a) desire, wish, longings of one's heart 1a1) lust, appetite, covetousness (bad sense) 1b) thing desired, object of desire
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: dainty, desire, [idiom] exceedingly, [idiom] greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See also H6914 (קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה). See also: Genesis 3:6; Psalms 106:14; Psalms 10:3.
צַדִּיקִ֣ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
"righteous"
Adj
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Definition: 1) just, lawful, righteous 1a) just, righteous (in government) 1b) just, right (in one's cause) 1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character) 1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God) 1e) right, correct, lawful
Usage: Occurs in 197 OT verses. KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man). See also: Genesis 6:9; Proverbs 10:31; Psalms 1:5.
אַךְ
ʼak
H389
"surely"
DirObjM
This Hebrew word is used to emphasize something, like saying 'surely' or 'certainly'. It can also be used to limit or restrict something, like saying 'only' or 'but'.
Definition: 1) indeed, surely (emphatic) 2) howbeit, only, but, yet (restrictive)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, [phrase] wherefore, yet (but). See also: Genesis 7:23; 2 Kings 23:35; Psalms 23:6.
ט֑וֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
"pleasant"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Definition: adj 1) good, pleasant, agreeable 1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses) 1b) pleasant (to the higher nature) 1c) good, excellent (of its kind) 1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation 1e) good, appropriate, becoming 1f) better (comparative) 1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature) 1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature) 1i) good, kind, benign 1j) good, right (ethical) Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
Usage: Occurs in 521 OT verses. KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). See also: Genesis 1:4; Ruth 2:22; 2 Chronicles 3:8.
תִּקְוַ֖ת
tiqvâh
H8615
"cord"
N-fs
In Hebrew, this word for hope means a cord that attaches or expectancy, like waiting for something to happen. It appears in the Bible as a feeling of expectation or a thing someone longs for. The KJV translates it as hope or expectation.
Definition: cord
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: expectation(-ted), hope, live, thing that I long for. See also: Joshua 2:18; Psalms 62:6; Psalms 9:19.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
עֶבְרָֽה
ʻebrâh
H5678
"fury"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means an outburst of passion, such as anger, rage, or wrath, often describing God's response to sin. It's used to convey intense emotions in the Bible.
Definition: 1) outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance 1a) overflow, excess, outburst 1b) arrogance 1c) overflowing rage or fury
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: anger, rage, wrath. See also: Genesis 49:7; Isaiah 14:6; Psalms 7:7.
Study Notes — Proverbs 11:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 11:23 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 11:23
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 11:23
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 11:23
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
- Sermons on Proverbs 11:23
Context — Dishonest Scales
21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 37:4 | Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. |
| 2 | Romans 2:8–9 | But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek; |
| 3 | Matthew 5:6 | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. |
| 4 | Psalms 119:10 | With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. |
| 5 | Psalms 27:4 | One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. |
| 6 | Isaiah 26:9 | My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. |
| 7 | Proverbs 10:28 | The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish. |
| 8 | Psalms 10:17 | You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear, |
| 9 | Jeremiah 17:16 | But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence. |
| 10 | Psalms 39:7–8 | And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools. |
Proverbs 11:23 Summary
Proverbs 11:23 teaches us that when we love God and want to do what's right, our desires will lead to good things. This is because our heart is set on pleasing God, and He guides us towards good outcomes, as seen in Psalm 37:4. On the other hand, when people don't love God and want to do wrong, their desires will lead to trouble and God's judgment, as warned in Romans 1:18. By following God and seeking to please Him, we can have desires that lead to good and avoid the wrath that comes from wickedness, as encouraged in 1 Timothy 2:4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the desire of the righteous to lead only to good?
This means that when people who love and follow God have desires, those desires will ultimately lead to good outcomes, as seen in Proverbs 11:23, because their heart is set on pleasing God, as stated in Proverbs 10:24.
How can we be sure that our desires are righteous and lead to good?
We can be sure by aligning our desires with God's will, as expressed in the Bible, and seeking to honor Him in all we do, as encouraged in Romans 12:2 and Psalm 37:4.
What is the wrath that the hope of the wicked brings?
The wrath referred to in Proverbs 11:23 is the judgment and displeasure of God, as seen in Psalm 7:11, which will come upon those who reject Him and live in sin, as warned in Romans 1:18.
Can a wicked person change and start having righteous desires?
Yes, anyone can turn to God and start having righteous desires, as promised in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ezekiel 36:26, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, as taught in Acts 3:19 and 1 Timothy 2:4.
Reflection Questions
- What are my deepest desires, and do they align with God's will for my life?
- How can I ensure that my hopes and desires are rooted in a love for God and a desire to please Him?
- In what ways can I cultivate righteous desires in my life, and what steps can I take to pursue them?
- What are some potential consequences of allowing wicked desires to guide my actions, and how can I avoid them?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 11:23
The desire of the righteous [is] only good,.... Or, "what is good" (z); only good is the object of it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 11:23
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. The desire of the righteous is only good. Their chief object of desire is God and His favour. They do not desire things unlawful.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
The desire; either, 1. Properly so called. So the sense is, His desires are generally and constantly to do good to men, as wicked men’ s designs are to do hurt, and to execute wrath and hatred against them. Or rather, 2. The object, or event, or effect of their desire, as appears from the next clause, where expectation is clearly put for the object or event of it. And the sense of the proverb seems to be this, The desires and expectations of the righteous shall end in their good and happiness, but the desires and expectations of wicked men shall be sadly disappointed, and end in the wrath of God and their utter ruin.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous [is] only good: [but] the expectation of the wicked [is] wrath.Ver. 23. The desire of the righteous is only good,] i.e., So far as he is righteous, or spiritual, he "delights in the law of God after the inward man," "willing in all things to live honestly." Evil motions haunt his mind otherwhiles, but there they inhabit not. Lust was a stranger to David, as Peter Martyr observes out of Nathan’ s parable; - "There came a traveller to this rich man." The main stream of his desires, the course and current of his heart ran upon God and godliness. He resolved to do better than he did. "The spirit ever lusteth against the flesh"; howbeit when the flesh gets the wind and hill of the spirit, all is not so well carried. As the ferryman plies the oar, and eyes the shore homeward, where he would be, yet there comes a gust of wind that carries him back again, so it is oft with a Christian. But every man is with God so good as he desires to be. In vitae libro scribuntur qui quod possunt faciunt, etsi quod debent non possunt. They are written in the book of life that do what good they can, though they cannot do as they would. But the expectation of the wicked is wrath,] i.e., The good they expect proves to be "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish," woeful perplexities and convulsions of soul, which will be so great and so grievous, as will make them rave and rage with madness and fury, especially because they looked for a better state.
Bernard.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
(23) The desire of the righteous is only good, and therefore it, being in accordance with the will of God, is granted to them. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.—Rather, presumption; they do not ask in the way or for the things which God wills they should (James 4:3), and therefore it is mere presumption on their part to expect the fulfilment of their desires.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 11:23
23. wrath] Strictly, outpouring, or overflowing, sc. of (God’s) wrath. Comp. Hebrews 10:27; and rod τοῦθυμοῦτῆςὀργῆς, Revelation 19:15. Stated in full the proverb would be: That which the righteous desires is good, and therefore his desire when accomplished brings good or prosperity to himself; whereas the wicked, who desires evil, has nothing to look for but the just reward of evil, the displeasure of Almighty God.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
23. Desire of the righteous is only good — Tends to and ends in good to him.
Sermons on Proverbs 11:23
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the Hope of the Righteous by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the objects, grounds, and evidences of the hope of the righteous in contrast to the despair of the wicked in death. He emphasizes the importance of hav |
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Whats Wrong With the Gospel - Part 1 by Keith Green | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing the journey of faith. They encourage listeners to seek solutions and growth in their spiritual |
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When God Stepped Down - Part 1 (Cd Quality) by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the preacher recounts a powerful revival that took place in a parish during the Lewis revival. The revival was sparked by a young man who read a portion of Psalm 24 |
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Christian Freedom: Grow Up and Be Free by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon on Galatians 4:1-18, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity in experiencing freedom in Christ. He distinguishes between age and maturity, statin |
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Grow Up and Be Free by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the theme of freedom and maturity in the context of the book of Galatians. The main message is that growing up spiritually leads to freedom i |
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Death of a Promise - Part 1 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the principle of the death of a promise. He explains that when God intends to fulfill a promise or bring about a special blessing, He first p |
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Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire-I Interview: Jim Cymbala by Jim Cymbala | In this video, Harold Harper introduces an interview with Pastor Jim Symbola of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The pastor's church has grown from a small congregation to a thriving commu |