Proverbs 22:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

NIV: Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

NASB: Do not make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person,

CSB: Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,

NLT: Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

KJV: Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

NKJV: Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

This advice counsels against becoming closely associated with someone who cannot control their temper. The more closely one is connected to an easily angered person, the more risk they experience. The two parts of this verse seem to imply that both friendship and even business dealings are to be avoided. That doesn't mean we should never interact at all with anyone who has a temper (1 Corinthians 5:9–10). Rather, it means we should seek to avoid such persons as much as we can.

The following verse details some of the ways in which a "hothead," or an anger-prone person, brings trouble. Bad tempers can lead to fights and drag others into them (Proverbs 29:22). Those who lose control of their tempers often accumulate enemies who not only oppose the hothead (Proverbs 14:17), but naturally come to hate anyone associated with them. Further, maintaining an intimate friendship with such a person means accepting a bad influence (Proverbs 13:20). Their bad temper can corrupt others into acting the same way (1 Corinthians 15:33).

The Bible clearly warns against unrighteous anger. Not all anger is immoral, as Paul stated, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26). Yet anger is closely tied to sinful attitudes. Further in the same chapter Paul commands: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31). Associating closely with a wrathful person also contradicts the broad concept behind 2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

This chapter completes a long string of wise sayings attributed to Solomon (Proverbs 10:1). He notes that reputation and godliness are far better than money. He also notes that godly wisdom keeps a person from various dangers. Loving parents use proper discipline to instill wisdom in their children. The last portion of the chapter introduces a new passage, made up of thirty wise teachings which Solomon endorses. This string of advice continues into chapter 24.

This chapter is the last of the second division of the book, including all of chapters 10—21. This section includes some 375 verses, mostly in paired lines. Chapter 22 completes these statements, then introduces a collection of thirty wise sayings endorsed by Solomon. The first five are negative commands, warning to avoid certain vices. Chapter 23 continues with more sayings of advice.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.