Proverbs 1:26

26 How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!

Proverbs 1:26 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:26

I also will laugh at your calamity
By way of retaliation, measuring measure for measure; even as they scorned him, and delighted in their scorning, now he in his turn will "laugh" at them and their distress; which act is ascribed to the Lord by an anthropopathy; see ( Psalms 2:4 ) ( 37:13 ) ; signifying that he should not at all pity them, show no compassion to them, and have no mercy upon them; but rather express a pleasure and delight in displaying the glory of his justice in their destruction: the plain sense is, that no favour would be shown them, ( Isaiah 27:11 ) . The word translated "calamity" signifies a "vapour" F6, or cloud; denoting it would be a very dark dispensation with the Jews, as it was when "wrath came upon them to the uttermost", ( 1 Thessalonians 2:16 ) ; even on their nation, city, and temple; as in their last destruction by the Romans, which is here intended; I will mock when your fear cometh;
which is the same thing in different words; for by "fear" is meant the dreadful calamity on which brought dread, terror, and consternation with it, and of which they had fearful apprehensions beforehand: wherefore this is mentioned among the signs of Jerusalem's destruction, "men's hearts failing them for fear", ( Luke 21:26 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (dya) "significat vaporem", Vatablus, Mercerus, Amama.

Proverbs 1:26 In-Context

24 As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.
25 "Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice,
26 How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
27 What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
28 You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won't find me.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.