Proverbs 24:18

18 The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won't punish them.

Proverbs 24:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:18

Lest the Lord see [it], and it displease him
Who sees all things, not only external actions, but the heart, and the inward motions of it; and though men may hide the pleasure they feel at the misery of an enemy from others, they cannot hide it from the Lord; nor is this said by way of doubt, but as a certain thing; and which the Lord not barely sees, but takes notice of, and to such a degree as to resent it, and show his displeasure at it by taking the following step; and he turn away his wrath from him;
remove the effects of it, raise him out of his fallen and distressed condition, and restore him to his former prosperous one; and not only so, but turn it upon thee, as Gersom supplies the words, and not amiss; so that there is a strange and sudden change of circumstances; thou that was pleasing thyself with the distress of thine enemy art fallen into the same, and he is delivered out of it; which must be a double affliction to such a man; so that by rejoicing at an enemy, he is doing his enemy good and himself hurt; see ( Proverbs 17:5 ) .

Proverbs 24:18 In-Context

16 No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked.
17 Don't be glad when your enemies meet disaster, and don't rejoice when they stumble.
18 The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won't punish them.
19 Don't let evil people worry you; don't be envious of them.
20 A wicked person has no future - nothing to look forward to.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.