Proverbs 22:24 (WEB)

Passage

Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:

Nearby Context

Proverbs 22:22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

Proverbs 22:23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

Proverbs 22:24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:

Proverbs 22:25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

Proverbs 22:26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "befriend", "hot-tempered", "associate", "harbors", and "anger". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "befriend" and "hot-tempered", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 23's "for Yahweh will plead their case and..." into verse 25's "lest you learn his ways and ensnare...", so "befriend" and "hot-tempered" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "befriend" and "hot-tempered" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.