Mishlei 22-24

Bad Company

[Pesukim 22-24 and 22-25]

Key Concepts

Mishlei urges the innocent reader to avoid associating with short-tempered people because they are a bad influence. Furthermore, the innocent person may find himself responsible for harm caused by the short-tempered troublemaker.

Exploring Mishlei

 כד = אַל תִּתְרַע אֶת בַּעַל אָף וְאֶת אִישׁ חֵמוֹת לֹא תָבוֹא

 כה = פֶּן תֶּאֱלַף אֹרְחֹתָיו וְלָקַחְתָּ מוֹקֵשׁ לְנַפְשֶׁךָ

(24) Do not associate with a man of temper and do not approach a man of wrath.

(25) Lest you learn his ways and bring on danger to your soul.

Mishlei conveys the message of this segment in two proverbs (22:24 and 22:5). The first describes the risk of learning to accept anger as a normal reaction to inconvenience. Treating anger as an acceptable form of responding to an offense will ultimately lead to sinful behavior.

The second proverb discusses the risk of being held financially responsible for the consequences of the damage brought about by a troublemaker.

Learning Mishlei

(24) Do not associate with a man of temper — אַל תִּתְרַע אֶת בַּעַל אָף
and do not approach a man of wrath — וְאֶת אִישׁ חֵמוֹת
(25) Lest you learn his ways — פֶּן תֶּאֱלַף אֹרְחֹתָיו
and bring on danger to your soul. — וְלָקַחְתָּ מוֹקֵשׁ לְנַפְשֶׁךָ

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Mishlei 22-24 (Bad Company) PDF version