KJV ORIGINAL
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Don't celebrate when your enemy falls down, and don't let your heart be happy when they stumble.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is teaching us not to take joy in our enemies' misfortunes or failures, even when they might deserve it.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from ancient Israel's wisdom literature, likely written during Solomon's reign or compiled later. In a culture where revenge and tribal feuds were common, this teaching would have been counter-cultural, emphasizing moral restraint over natural human impulses. The Hebrew wisdom tradition emphasized that true righteousness meant rising above petty satisfaction in others' downfall.
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