A-Z: Common sayings from the Bible: Hope deferred makes the heart sick

Usage

When one's hopes are not forthcoming one tends to feel let down and despairing.

Definition

The wisdom literature of the Bible often summarises the realities of life: it can be hard to keep hoping when one's hopes are confounded.

Bible References

Proverbs 13:12

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. ²From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. ³Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. ⁴The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. ⁵The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. ⁶Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. ⁷One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. ⁸The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. ⁹The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ¹⁰By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. ¹¹Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. ¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. ¹³Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. ¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. ¹⁵Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. ¹⁶In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. ¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. ¹⁸Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. ¹⁹A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. ²⁰Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. ²¹Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. ²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. ²³The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. ²⁴Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. ²⁵The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

¹A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. ²A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. ³He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. ⁴The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. ⁵A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. ⁶Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. ⁷There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. ⁸The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. ⁹The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. ¹⁰Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. ¹¹Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. ¹²Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. ¹³Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. ¹⁴The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. ¹⁵Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. ¹⁶Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. ¹⁷A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. ¹⁸Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. ¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. ²⁰He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. ²¹Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. ²²A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. ²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. ²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. ²⁵The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

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