Proverbs 22:17-29: a reflection

17Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching. 18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD. 20Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge, 21To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you? 22Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court; 23for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them. 24Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger, 25lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul. 26Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts. 27If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you? 28Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up. 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.

Among the sayings of the wise comes a piece of counsel about the company we keep: Don't befriend a hot-tempered man. Don't associate with one who harbors anger, lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul. The warning recognizes a truth about human nature: we are shaped by the company we keep. Associate closely with an angry, hot-tempered person, and you will tend to learn his ways, to take on his patterns, to be shaped by his influence. The counsel is not merely about avoiding trouble, but about the shaping power of our companions; we become like those we keep close company with.

Notice the reason for the warning: lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul. The danger of associating closely with a hot-tempered, angry person is not only the trouble he may bring, but that we will learn his ways, take on his patterns, be shaped by his influence into something like him. Our companions shape us; we absorb the ways of those we keep close company with, for good or ill. To associate closely with the angry is to risk becoming angry; to keep company with any pattern of life is to be shaped toward it. The counsel recognizes that we become like those we surround ourselves with, and so calls us to choose our close company wisely.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are shaped by the company we keep, and do well to choose our close companions wisely. We can be careless about the company we keep, associating closely with whoever, without regard to how their ways may shape us; but the proverb warns that we learn the ways of those we keep company with, and can be ensnared by them. Our companions shape us, for good or ill; the close company we choose molds us toward its patterns. Do not be careless about the close company you keep; choose your companions wisely, mindful that you will learn their ways, as the proverb warns against befriending the hot-tempered. Choose your close companions wisely, mindful that you are shaped by the company you keep and will learn their ways, as the proverb warns against befriending the hot-tempered lest you learn his ways; for we become like those we keep close company with, and it is wisdom to choose companions whose ways we would be glad to be shaped by, rather than those whose patterns would ensnare us.

Lord, among the sayings of the wise comes a piece of counsel about the company I keep: don't befriend a hot-tempered man; don't associate with one who harbors anger, lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul. The warning recognizes a truth about human nature: we are shaped by the company we keep. Associate closely with an angry, hot-tempered person, and I will tend to learn his ways, to take on his patterns, to be shaped by his influence. Show me the reason for the warning: lest I learn his ways and ensnare my soul. The danger of associating closely with a hot-tempered, angry person is not only the trouble he may bring, but that I will learn his ways, take on his patterns, be shaped by his influence into something like him. My companions shape me; I absorb the ways of those I keep close company with, for good or ill. To associate closely with the angry is to risk becoming angry. The counsel recognizes that I become like those I surround myself with. Take that to my heart, for I am shaped by the company I keep, and do well to choose my close companions wisely. I can be careless about the company I keep, associating closely with whoever, without regard to how their ways may shape me; but the proverb warns that I learn the ways of those I keep company with. My companions shape me, for good or ill. Keep me from being careless about the close company I keep; help me choose my companions wisely, Lord, mindful that I will learn their ways, as the proverb warns against befriending the hot-tempered, and help me choose those whose ways I would be glad to be shaped by.