Proverbs 24:19

19 Strive thou not with the worst men, neither follow thou wicked men. (Argue thou not with the wicked, nor follow thou the wicked.)

Proverbs 24:19 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:19

Fret not thyself because of evil [men]
Because of their outward prosperity and worldly happiness, any more than rejoice at their adversity; neither do the one nor the other; where the one prevails, the other does also; by the frequent repetition of this advice, it looks as if this evil is what good men are prone to, and which was very common in Solomon's time, and in the time of his father David, from whom he seems to have borrowed these words, ( Psalms 37:1 Psalms 37:7 ) ; see ( Proverbs 23:17 ) ( 24:1 ) ; neither be thou envious at the wicked;
though they may stand when thou fallest, or be in prosperity when thou art in adversity; the reasons follow.

Proverbs 24:19 In-Context

17 When thine enemy falleth, have thou not joy; and thine heart have not full out joying in his falling;

18 lest peradventure the Lord see, and it displease him, and he take away his ire from him.

19 Strive thou not with the worst men, neither follow thou wicked men. (Argue thou not with the wicked, nor follow thou the wicked.)

20 For why evil men have not hope of things to come, and the lantern of wicked men shall be quenched. (For evil people have no hope in things to come, and the lantern of the wicked shall be quenched.)

21 My son, dread thou God, and the king; and be thou not meddled with backbiters. (My son, fear thou God/have thou reverence for God, and the king; and be thou not mixed in, or mingled, with backbiters.)