Proverbs 11:23The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon observing the court system and marketplace, watching how people's deepest desires shape their destiny in Jerusalem...
The emotion here: wise satisfaction from observing life patterns
The original word
taʾawat (תַּאֲוַת) — deep longing or craving that drives behavior, not casual wanting
Why it matters
Hebrew has no word for mere 'wish' — all desires were seen as powerful forces shaping destiny
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 11:23
This isn't about getting what you want — it's about what your wanting reveals about your heart
Common misconceptionPeople think righteous people always get what they desire, but Solomon is saying righteous people desire good things — which aligns them with God's will.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 11:23
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 11:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 11:23 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include desire, expectation, righteousness. Notable phrases: desire of the righteous is only good; expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 11:23 mean to you, today?
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