or desire their company;
Desiring the company of wicked men implies a willingness to associate with or emulate their ways. In ancient Israel, social and religious life was deeply intertwined, and associating with those who rejected God's laws could lead to spiritual and moral compromise. The Bible consistently warns against forming close relationships with those who might lead believers astray, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" This phrase also echoes the wisdom of Psalm 1, which advises against walking in the counsel of the wicked. The call is to seek fellowship with those who pursue righteousness, reflecting the community of believers who encourage one another in faith.

Proverbs 24:1 begins with the straightforward charge, “Do not envy….”

• Envy sprouts when we measure success or comfort by what others possess rather than by what God provides (Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 23:17).

• Psalm 37:1-2 cautions, “Do not fret over evildoers… for they wither quickly like grass.” Their apparent gain is temporary, so longing for it is misplaced.

• Asaph admitted in Psalm 73:3, “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked,” yet later confessed their footing was “slippery” (Psalm 73:18-19). Scripture consistently redirects our eyes from comparative jealousy to confident trust in God’s just ordering of life.

The object of the warning matters: “wicked men.”

• Wickedness is a settled posture against God (Proverbs 4:14-17). What looks like cleverness or success is actually rebellion.

• Psalm 1:1 paints the downward spiral: walking, standing, then sitting with the wicked. This verse in Proverbs stops that slide at the very first thought—envy.

• Observe the end of such people: “I have seen a wicked, ruthless man… yet he passed away” (Psalm 37:35-36). Their path is short-lived, so their lifestyle is no model for God’s children.

Envy can turn into desire—an inward craving.

• Proverbs 1:10 warns, “If sinners entice you, do not yield,” showing how desire begins in the heart before it becomes action.

• James 1:14-15 traces the same progression: desire conceives sin, and sin brings death. The proverb arrests that process by checking the desire itself.

• Rather than desire what the wicked have, we are urged to “delight yourself in the LORD” (Psalm 37:4). God satisfies deeper than any earthly lure.

The climax of the warning is social: “their company.”

• Close association shapes character. “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).

• Psalm 26:4-5 reflects David’s resolve: “I do not sit with deceitful men… I abhor the assembly of evildoers.” Separation here is not aloofness; it preserves holiness.

• 1 Corinthians 15:33 reinforces the timeless principle, “Bad company corrupts good character.” The proverb pushes us to choose companions who spur godliness, not compromise it.

Proverbs 24:1 counsels: “Do not envy wicked men or desire their company.”

• Refuse to let jealousy spark over the fleeting success of those who defy God.

• Remember their apparent advantage is momentary and their end is ruin.

• Guard the heart before desire embeds itself and leads to entangling relationships.

• Seek companionship that strengthens faith, trusting that God’s favor far outweighs worldly allure.