I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about God finding humor in our downfall. The Hebrew word translated "calamity" also carries the sense of a "vapor" or a fleeting cloud, suggesting that God sees the utter futility and transience of the very things people chase, making their eventual ruin not just deserved, but also pathetically predictable. It reveals a profound divine perspective on human pride and its inevitable collapse.
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Wisdom, personified as a public caller, has been inviting people to turn from their foolish, sinful ways. This verse describes the ultimate consequence for those who stubbornly refuse: when their worst fears and disasters finally crash down upon them, Wisdom will not offer comfort but will instead stand by, indifferent and mocking, as their destruction unfolds. This is a stark contrast to the gracious invitation to repent that precedes it, showing the inevitable outcome of rejecting God's persistent call.
What happens when the laughter stops and terror strikes? This verse reveals wisdom's response to those who have ignored her.
When Wisdom Responds
This verse, Proverbs 1:26, speaks of a future moment when Wisdom will not only refuse to help but will actively 'laugh' and 'mock' at the terror striking those who have rejected her. This isn't about God finding humor in suffering. Instead, it's a powerful literary way to describe the finality and completeness of judgment for those who persistently disregard wisdom.
Ask a follow-up
What exactly is this 'calamity' and 'fear' that Wisdom watches with derision?
More Than Just Bad Luck
The words used for 'calamity' and 'fear' in this verse are intense and carry significant weight, pointing to more than just everyday troubles.
Before the laughter, there's always a call. What does Wisdom offer now?
The Contrast: Invitation vs. Derision
It's crucial to understand that Proverbs 1:26 describes a future outcome for those who refuse Wisdom's persistent calls. The intensity of Wisdom's eventual laughter only underscores the urgency and grace of her present invitation.
The powerful message is that while the consequences of rejecting wisdom are severe and final, the opportunity to embrace her and receive divine help is available now.
Understand the original words
ʾêd · Hebrew Noun
A state of deep distress, misfortune, or ruin; it often refers to a sudden and severe disaster or state of being undone.
śāḥaq · Hebrew Verb
A state of being mocked or held in derision. It signifies the removal of protection and the revealing of the foolishness of those who rejected divine wisdom.
lāʿaḡ · Hebrew Verb
To mimic or deride; it conveys an attitude of intense disapproval and the exposing of someone's folly. In this context, it highlights the finality and inevitability of judgment upon the stubborn.
paḥad · Hebrew Noun
A state of sudden, overwhelming dread or alarm. Biblically, it is often associated with the presence of divine judgment or the consequence of defying God’s order.
This passage uses the same imagery of God laughing and mocking at His enemies when they defy Him, highlighting the divine response to rebellion.
Psalm 37:13This verse parallels the idea that the Lord observes the wicked, and their downfall is certain, implying a divine perspective of judgment over their actions.
Isaiah 27:11This passage speaks of a time when God will not pity or spare His enemies, reinforcing the idea of a severe and unyielding judgment for those who reject Him.
Luke 21:26This verse describes men's hearts failing them from fear as terrible calamities approach, which resonates with the 'terror' and 'fear' mentioned in Proverbs, showing the consequences of ignoring wisdom.
Romans 1:24This New Testament passage speaks of God giving people over to their sinful desires when they reject Him, showing a divine consequence that can feel like abandonment or mockery in its severity.
pulpitProverbs 1:26: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;"
Verse 26. - I also will laugh at your calamity; or, more accurately, in the time of your calamity; as in the Vulgate, in interitu vestro ridebo. The preposition prefixed to the substantive b'eyd'chem (בְּאֵידְכֵם) refers to the time, or state, or condition (Gesenius, 'Gram.,' 154, 3). In the time of their calamity wisdom will exult or rejoice. The LXX., Τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἀπλείᾳ ἐπιγελάσομαι, however, favours the re…
jfbProverbs 1:26: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;"
26, 27. In their extreme distress He will not only refuse help, but aggravate it by derision.
This verse isn't just about God finding humor in our downfall. The Hebrew word translated "calamity" also carries the sense of a "vapor" or a fleeting cloud, suggesting that God sees the utter futility and transience of the very things people chase, making their eventual ruin not just deserved, but also pathetically predictable. It reveals a profound divine perspective on human pride and its inevitable collapse.
Wisdom, personified as a public caller, has been inviting people to turn from their foolish, sinful ways. This verse describes the ultimate consequence for those who stubbornly refuse: when their worst fears and disasters finally crash down upon them, Wisdom will not offer comfort but will instead stand by, indifferent and mocking, as their destruction unfolds. This is a stark contrast to the gracious invitation to repent that precedes it, showing the inevitable outcome of rejecting God's persistent call.
Wisdom, personified as a public caller, has been inviting people to turn from their foolish, sinful ways. This verse describes the ultimate consequence for those who stubbornly refuse: when their worst fears and disasters finally crash down upon them, Wisdom will not offer comfort but will instead stand by, indifferent and mocking, as their destruction unfolds. This is a stark contrast to the gracious invitation to repent that precedes it, showing the inevitable outcome of rejecting God's persistent call.
"I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you," — This verse isn't just about God finding humor in our downfall. The Hebrew word translated "calamity" also carries the sense of a "vapor" or a fleeting cloud, suggesting that God sees the utter futili…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026