Proverbs 22:24–25
Do not befriend an angry man, or you may learn his ways
Study it word by word24Do not make friends with a man of anger, and with a man of wrath do not go,
25lest you learn his ways and take a snare for your soul.
In its context
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted in the gate;
23for YHWH will plead their case, and will rob the soul of those who rob them.
…
26Do not be among those who strike palms, among those who become surety for debts.
27If you have nothing to pay with, why should he take your bed from under you?
Its words in the original
- תִּתְרַעtitra· shepherd, feed
Shepherd: tend and feed a flock; of animals, graze. Figuratively, lead a people. As a noun, "shepherd".
- בַּעַלbaal· owner, husband
Owner, master of something; husband. With another word it says who has that thing: "masters of a covenant" = allies; "master of dreams" = dreamer.
- אָףaf· anger, nose
Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- חֵמוֹתchemot· wrath, fury
Wrath, burning anger, fury; also venom.
- תָבוֹאtavo· come, go in, bring
Come, arrive, go in, enter. In the causative form, "bring" or "carry in". "Go in to" a woman is to have marital relations with her.
- תֶּאֱלַףteelaf· learn, teach
To learn; in another form of the verb, to teach.
- אֹרְחֹתָיorchotay· path, way
Way, path; one's usual manner. "The way of women" is menstruation. Also a caravan.
- לָקַחְתָּlakachta· take
Take: seize, take along, receive. Also "take a wife" (marry).
- מוֹקֵשׁmokesh· snare
Snare, trap for hunting; whatever makes someone fall.
- נַפְשֶׁnafshe· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.