17:5

In this verse, the parallel parts both refer to the same person.

5a
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;

5b
whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

The first line talks about a person who mocks the poor. The second line explains the way in which he mocks. He mocks by gloating over the poor person’s extreme poverty. This poverty is described here as “calamity.”

The overall meaning is that someone who makes fun of a poor person’s hardship insults the LORD at the same time. As a result, this kind of person will certainly be punished.

17:5a

He who mocks the poor insults their Maker: This line means that when a person ridicules or makes fun of someone who is poor, he also by implication despises, scorns, or treats the LORD as worthless.

This line is similar to 14:31a. Two differences are that:

(a) Verse 14:31a has “oppresses” instead of mocks.

(b) It also has a different Hebrew word for poor.

See the note on 14:31a, including the recommended interpretation and translation advice.

poor: For more information on the word poor that is used here, see the note on 10:4a.

17:5b

whoever gloats over calamity: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gloats means to rejoice or be glad. The word translated here as calamity normally refers to a sudden event that causes damage (see the note on 1:26a–b). Here the parallel in 17:5a further defines this word as economic disaster. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

those who rejoice at the misfortune of others (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Whoever is happy to see someone’s distress (God’s Word)

will not go unpunished: The phrase will not go unpunished means “will be punished.” This is a passive verb. In this context, it is implied that the LORD is the one who punishes the person who “gloats over calamity.” In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this phrase without using a passive verb. For example:

will not escape punishment (God’s Word)
-or-
⌊The LORD⌋ will certainly punish…

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