In the falling of thine enemy rejoice not, And in his stumbling let not thy heart be joyful,Proverbs 24:17 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleRejoice not when thine enemy falleth, (into this mischief), and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth - When he meets with any thing that injures him; for God will not have thee to avenge thyself, or feel any disposition contrary to love; for if thou do, the Lord will be angry, and may turn away his wrath from him, and pour it out on thee.
This I believe to be the true sense of these verses: but we must return to the sixteenth, as that has been most sinfully misrepresented.
For a just man falleth seven times - That is, say many, "the most righteous man in the world sins seven times a day on an average." Solomon does not say so: -
1. There is not a word about sin in the text.
2. The word day is not in the Hebrew text, nor in any of the versions.
3. The word יפול yippol, from נפל naphal, to fall, is never applied to sin.
4. When set in opposition to the words riseth up, it merely applies to affliction or calamity. See Micah 7:8; Amos 8:4; Jeremiah 25:27; and Psalm 34:19, Psalm 34:20. "The righteous falls into trouble." See above.
Mr. Holden has a very judicious note on this passage: "Injure not a righteous man; for, though he frequently falls into distress, yet, by the superintending care of Providence, 'he riseth up again,' is delivered from his distress, while the wicked are overwhelmed with their misfortunes. That this is the meaning is plain from the preceding and following verses: yet some expound it by the just man often relapsing into sin, and recovering from it; nay, it has even been adduced to prove the doctrine of the final perseverance of the elect. But נפל is never used for falling into sin, but into distress and affliction - as Proverbs 11:5, Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 13:17; Proverbs 17:20; Proverbs 26:27; Proverbs 28:10, Proverbs 28:14, Proverbs 28:18."
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Judges 16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport...
2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei...
Job 31:29 If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
Psalm 35:15,19 But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yes, the attackers gathered themselves together against me...
Psalm 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, my enemies reproach me; while they say daily to me, Where is your God?
Obadiah 1:12 But you should not have looked on the day of your brother in the day that he became a stranger...
1 Corinthians 13:6,7 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth...
Proverbs 24:17 Parallel Commentaries
Downfall Enemy Fall Falleth Falling Falls Glad Gloat Hater Heart Joy Joyful Overthrown Rejoice Stumbles Stumbleth StumblingDownfall Enemy Fall Falleth Falling Falls Glad Gloat Hater Heart Joy Joyful Overthrown Rejoice Stumbles Stumbleth StumblingTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Proverbs 24:17 Mobile Bible
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