John Gill Commentary Proverbs 1:26

"I also will laugh in [the day of] your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;" — Proverbs 1:26 (ASV)

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 comes; 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) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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