Proverbs 10:27–30

10:27 Fearing the Lord98 prolongs life,99

but the life span100 of the wicked will be shortened.101

10:28 The hope102 of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled.103

10:29 The way of the Lord104 is like105 a stronghold for the upright,106

but it is destruction107 to evildoers.108

10:30 The righteous will never be moved,

but the wicked will not inhabit the land.109

98	tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yéhvah, “the Lord”) functions as an objective genitive.
99	tn Heb “days” (so KJV, ASV).
100	tn Heb “years.” The term “years” functions as a synecdoche of part (= years) for the whole (= lifespan).
101	sn This general saying has to be qualified with the problem of the righteous suffering and dying young, a problem that perplexed the sages of the entire ancient world. But this is the general principle: The righteous live longer because their life is the natural one and because God blesses them.
102	sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.
103	tn Heb “will perish”; NAB “comes to nought.”
104	sn The “way of the Lord” is an idiom for God’s providential administration of life; it is what the Lord does (“way” being a hypocatastasis).
105	tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
106	tn Heb “for the one with integrity” (לַתֹּם, latom).
107	tn Or “ruin” (so NIV).
108	tn Heb “those who practice iniquity.”
109	sn This proverb concerns the enjoyment of covenant blessings—dwelling in the land of Israel. It is promised to the righteous for an eternal inheritance, and so the wicked cannot expect to settle there—they will be exiled.