The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The fear of the Lord prolongeth days - namely, the days of the righteous, beyond the term of life assigned to others (note, Proverbs 9:11). The days of the righteous, by virtue of God's gift of eternal life, shall be forever.
But the years of the wicked shall be shortened - (Psalms 55:23.) Though the sinner's days sometimes seem 'prolonged,' they are at best but a 'shadow, because he feareth not before God.' In estimating length of years, we need to take into the account the eternal years which are before us (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13).