¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; ¹⁸ lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. ¹⁹ Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked; ²⁰ for the evil man has no future;

the lamp of the wicked will be put out. Proverbs 24: 17-20

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome and told them:

^"1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴ for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. "

This would be the same government that would later execute the writer of this passage for his belief in Jesus as Messiah. Governments are ordained by God to punish wrongdoers. But, the passage in Proverbs quoted above warns us about rejoicing over a fallen enemy. I think the reason is straightforward. Vengeance is the prerogative of God and not the individual. Governments hold authority granted by God; but, the children of God are not to partake in the blood lust of vengeance. Or, again as the apostle Paul instructs the church:

¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰ No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-20. Praying for one's enemies is not the way of the world; but, it is the way of the cross. Marantha!