Proverbs
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 13:12
Proverbs 13:12 (KJV) speaks to hope, disappointment, and longing — words set in Proverbs, the Bible's book of practical wisdom. It is the kind of verse worth reading slowly, more than once, and carrying with you through the day.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”
Psalms 62:5“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”
Psalms 130:5“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Romans 8:25“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:3“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
Psalms 40:1“The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.”
Proverbs 10:28
Common questions
What does Proverbs 13:12 mean?
In the King James Version, Proverbs 13:12 reads: "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." The verse speaks to hope, disappointment, and longing. To read it well, take it in the flow of Proverbs 13 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Proverbs 13:12 in the King James Version?
Yes. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." is Proverbs 13:12 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Proverbs chapter 13.
What are some related Bible verses to Proverbs 13:12?
Verses that sit beside Proverbs 13:12 include Psalms 62:5, Psalms 130:5, and Romans 8:25. Reading them alongside Proverbs 13:12 deepens the theme of hope.
How can I pray with Proverbs 13:12?
Read Proverbs 13:12 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.