Proverbs 11 23

Proverbs 11:23 kjv

The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Proverbs 11:23 nkjv

The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Proverbs 11:23 niv

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

Proverbs 11:23 esv

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

Proverbs 11:23 nlt

The godly can look forward to a reward,
while the wicked can expect only judgment.

Proverbs 11 23 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ps 1:1-3Blessed is the man...delights in the law of the LORD...bears fruit...The prosperity of the righteous.
Ps 37:4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.God grants the righteous their good desires.
Ps 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.God's generosity to the righteous.
Prov 10:24What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.Direct parallel, opposing outcomes.
Prov 13:12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.Fulfillment brings life; related to desire.
Matt 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Righteous desires bring God's provision.
1 Jn 5:14-15And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.Asking in accordance with righteous desires.
Ps 9:15-17The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.Wicked entrapped by their own schemes.
Ps 7:14-16Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.The internal nature of wickedness.
Prov 1:27-28when terror strikes you like a storm...they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.Consequences of neglecting wisdom.
Prov 11:4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.Directly links "wrath" with lack of profit for wicked.
Rom 2:8-9but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.Direct link: unrighteousness brings wrath.
Eph 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.Wrath for the disobedient.
Col 3:5-6Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality... On account of these the wrath of God is coming.Specific sins lead to wrath.
Jer 17:9-10The heart is deceitful above all things...I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways.God judges the heart's true desires/intentions.
Prov 2:21-22For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land.Contrast of enduring outcomes.
Deut 28:1-2"If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God...all these blessings shall come upon you..."Blessings for obedience.
Deut 28:15"But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God...all these curses shall come upon you..."Curses for disobedience.
Jam 4:3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.Ungodly desires hinder receiving from God.
Prov 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.Contrast in internal and external output.

Proverbs 11 verses

Proverbs 11 23 Meaning

Proverbs 11:23 contrasts the inherent nature and outcome of two distinct groups: the righteous and the wicked. The verse conveys that the deep-seated yearnings and internal inclinations of a righteous person invariably lead to genuine goodness, welfare, and positive results. Conversely, the hopes, schemes, and fundamental outlook of the wicked lead inevitably to divine judgment, indignation, or ruin. It speaks to the inseparable link between one's character and their ultimate destiny or consequence.

Proverbs 11 23 Context

Proverbs 11 belongs to the collection of Solomon's proverbs (Prov 10:1 - 22:16), which frequently employ contrasting pairs to highlight the moral and practical outcomes of different character traits and actions. This chapter specifically focuses on the themes of righteousness and wickedness, justice and injustice, pride and humility, and generosity versus greed. The verse fits squarely within this chapter's overarching emphasis that one's inner disposition – whether oriented towards God and good or towards self and evil – dictates the course of their life and the divine response they receive. Historically, Proverbs functioned as wisdom literature within ancient Israel, guiding individuals in living righteously under God's covenant, emphasizing a divinely ordered universe where moral choices have tangible consequences, often immediate, but certainly ultimate.

Proverbs 11 23 Word analysis

  • The desire (Hebrew: תַּאֲוַת, ta'avat from ta'avah): This term denotes a strong longing, craving, or deep passion. It's not merely a casual wish but an ardent inner impulse or appetite that shapes one's motivation and aims. In the Bible, ta'avah can be neutral (what is desired, as in food), negative (lust, craving for evil, e.g., Num 11:4; Ps 78:30), or, as here, positive when it describes a righteous heart's longing.
  • of the righteous (Hebrew: צַדִּיקִים, tzaddiqim): Refers to those who are upright, just, and stand in right relationship with God. Their moral integrity and obedience to God's ways define them.
  • brings (Implied verb in Hebrew): The Hebrew phrase for "brings only good" is "אָךְ טוֹב" ('akh tov), literally "only good." The verb "brings" is implied, signifying that the desire is the source or direct cause of the good. The word 'akh (אָךְ) acts as an intensifier, meaning "surely," "only," or "indeed," emphasizing the exclusive positive outcome.
  • only good (Hebrew: טוֹב, tov): Encompasses welfare, prosperity, benefit, blessing, what is pleasant, useful, or morally excellent. It signifies a holistic state of flourishing that aligns with God's perfect standard.
  • but (Hebrew: וְ, ve): This is the conjunctive 'waw' which functions here adversatively, marking a direct contrast.
  • the expectation (Hebrew: תִּקְוַת, tiqvat from tiqvah): This word signifies hope, anticipation, confidence, or what one relies upon. It refers to what the wicked look forward to, their plan, or their source of confidence. While tiqvah can refer to true hope (e.g., in God), when applied to the wicked, it denotes their misplaced confidence or their evil designs for the future.
  • of the wicked (Hebrew: רְשָׁעִים, rəsha'im): These are individuals characterized by unrighteousness, active rebellion against God, or habitual evil deeds. They are the opposite of the righteous, living contrary to God's revealed will.
  • brings wrath (Hebrew: עֶבְרָה, evrah): Similar to "brings only good," the verb is implied; the expectation is the source or direct cause of wrath. Evrah signifies intense fury, rage, indignation, often divine wrath and judgment. It is the just outpouring of God's displeasure against sin and rebellion.


  • "The desire of the righteous brings only good": This phrase emphasizes that a righteous person's deepest longings are inherently aligned with what is pleasing to God. Because their motivations are pure and seek God's will, the resulting fruit is unfailingly good and beneficial. Their very nature, refined by faith and obedience, predisposes them to positive, divinely-blessed outcomes.
  • "but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath": This directly contrasting phrase highlights that the aspirations, hopes, or plans of those who live in opposition to God lead not to success or blessing, but to inevitable divine indignation. The wicked’s pursuits, being rooted in selfish ambition or defiance, ultimately invite God's just recompense and judgment. Their confidence is misplaced, and their anticipated gains will transform into ruin.

Proverbs 11 23 Bonus section

This proverb transcends mere temporal cause and effect, pointing towards a spiritual reality where inner alignment with God's character yields His favor, while misalignment invites His just judgment. It reinforces the biblical emphasis on the heart as the wellspring of life (Prov 4:23), from which all desires and intentions flow. The verse subtly underscores God's omniscient nature, for He truly knows the depths of every heart (Jer 17:9-10), responding accordingly. It also serves as a perpetual encouragement for the believer to cultivate a pure heart and righteous desires, knowing that these will be rewarded with true good. For the unrighteous, it is a stark warning that their misplaced hopes and evil inclinations culminate in divine indignation.

Proverbs 11 23 Commentary

Proverbs 11:23 provides a profound theological and moral truth: one's innermost disposition fundamentally shapes their destiny. For the righteous, whose hearts are set on God and what is true, good, and honorable, their desires naturally align with divine will. This alignment ensures that their path leads to genuine good, prosperity in spirit, and ultimately, blessings from God. It suggests that their internal yearning for what is right makes them recipients of divine favor. Conversely, the wicked, driven by self-interest, corruption, or rebellion, harbor expectations that contradict God's righteous order. Their misplaced confidence and malevolent schemes are not just self-defeating but actively provoke divine judgment. This "wrath" is the inevitable consequence of a life lived apart from God, signaling His just response to evil. The verse thus affirms that God discerns and judges not only actions but also the hidden desires and intentions of the heart, dispensing good to the righteous and wrath to the wicked.