Proverbs 24:18

18 lest peradventure the Lord see, and it displease him, and he take away his ire from him.

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 For a just man shall fall seven times in the day, and shall rise again; but wicked men shall fall into evil. (For a righteous person shall fall seven times in a day, and shall rise up again each time; but the wicked shall fall into evil, and shall never get out of it.)
17 When thine enemy falleth, have thou not joy; and thine heart have not full out joying in his falling;
18 lest peradventure the Lord see, and it displease him, and he take away his ire from him.
19 Strive thou not with the worst men, neither follow thou wicked men. (Argue thou not with the wicked, nor follow thou the wicked.)
20 For why evil men have not hope of things to come, and the lantern of wicked men shall be quenched. (For evil people have no hope in things to come, and the lantern of the wicked shall be quenched.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.