Proverbs 24:17-18
New English Translation
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,[a]
and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
18 lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,[b]
and turn his wrath away from him.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:17 sn The saying (vv. 17, 18) warns against gloating over the misfortune of one’s enemies. The prohibition is formed with two negated jussives “do not rejoice” and “let not be glad,” the second qualified by “your heart” as the subject, signifying the inner satisfaction of such a defeat.
- Proverbs 24:18 tn Heb “and [it is] evil in his eyes.”
- Proverbs 24:18 sn The judgment of God should strike a note of fear in the heart of people (e.g., Lev 19:17-18). His judgment is not to be taken lightly, or personalized as a victory. If that were to happen, then the Lord might take pity on the enemies in their calamity, for he champions the downtrodden and defeated. These are probably personal enemies; the imprecatory psalms and the prophetic oracles present a different set of circumstances for the downfall of God’s enemies—even the book of Proverbs says that brings joy to the community.
Proverbs 24:17-18
World English Bible
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.
Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,
and he turn away his wrath from him.
Proverbs 25:21-22
New English Translation
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,[a]
and the Lord will reward you.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The imagery of the “burning coals” represents pangs of conscience, more readily effected by kindness than by violence. These coals produce the sharp pain of contrition through regret (e.g. 18:19; 20:22; 24:17; Gen 42-45; 1 Sam 24:18-20; Rom 12:20). The coals then would be an implied comparison with a searing conscience.
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The second consequence of treating enemies with kindness is that the Lord will reward the act. The fact that this is promised shows that the instruction here belongs to the religious traditions of Israel.
Proverbs 25:21-22
World English Bible
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
Proverbs 27:6
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:6 tn The Niphal participle of אָמַן (ʾaman) means “faithful; reliable; sure; trustworthy.” The word indicates that the wounds from a friend “can be trusted” (so NIV, NCV) because they are meant to correct and not to destroy (e.g., 25:12; Deut 7:9; Job 12:20).
- Proverbs 27:6 sn “Kisses” probably represents a metonymy of adjunct; the term describes any expressions or indications of affection. But coming from an enemy, they will be insincere—as indicated by their excessive number.
- Proverbs 27:6 tn The form is נַעְתָּרוֹת (naʿtarot), the Niphal participle of עָתַר (ʿatar, “to be abundant”). Contemporary translations render this rare form in a number of different ways: “deceitful” (NASB, NKJV); “profuse” (NRSV); “many” (NLT). But the idea of “excessive” or “numerous” fits very well. The kisses of an enemy cannot be trusted, no matter how often they are presented.
Proverbs 27:6
World English Bible
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful,
although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
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