John Trapp on Proverbs 24:16

Verſ. 16. For a juſt man falleth ſeven times] i. e. often. Seven times a day, as the Vulgar and many of the Fathers read it, who alſo underſtand this text of falling into ſinne, and riſing again by repentance. But the oppoſition carrys it to the other ſenſe, of falling into trouble. And the next verſe ſpeaks as much, Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth, &c. Gods Saints are bound to rejoyce when they fall into divers temptations, Jam. 1.2. What though they fall into them? not go in ſtep by ſtep, but be precipitated, plunged over head and ears. Say they fall not into one but many croſſes,Jam. 1.2. (as they ſeldome come ſingle, but like Jobs meſſengers one at the heels of another) yet be exceeding glad, (ſaith the Apoſtle) as a Merchant is to ſee his ſhips come laden in. For though yee fall, ye ſhall ariſe, and though yee ſit in darkneſſe, the Lord ſhall give you light, Mic. 7.8.

But the wicked ſhall fall into miſchief] i. e. into remedileſs miſery. Non ſurget hic afflictio, Nahum 1.9. As they ſhall have an evill, an only evill without mixture of mercy, Ezek. 7.5. ſo they ſhall totally and finally be conſumed at once. If Mordecai be of the ſeed of the Jews, before whom Hamon hath begun to fall, he ſhall fall to ſome purpoſe, Eſth. 6.13. A Jew may fall before a Perſian, and get up and prevail. But if a Perſian or other Perſecutour begin to fall before a Jew, he can neither ſtay nor riſe. There is an inviſible hand of Omnipotency that ſtrikes in for his own, and confounds their oppoſites.