Proverbs 10:24

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted - literally, '(God) will grant.' The wicked and the righteous respectively shall receive the reward of their course; the wicked what (through the instinct of conscience) he fears; the righteous what he wishes for (through faith and well-grounded hope, ). Though the wicked "sport" () in doing mischief, yet soon the feeling of sport flees, and there comes in its place fear, through the stings of conscience. Their fear does not drive them to prayer; so their fear proves to be well grounded, because the apprehended destruction comes upon them. On the other hand, the righteous, having a good conscience through faith, have no continuous fear, but a well-grounded desire and hope: and believing prayer ensures the fulfillment of their desire (; 1 John 5:14; 1 John 3:22).