Be not thou envious against evil men
Or, "men of evil" {b}. Such who are addicted to evil, and given
up to it, whose principles and practices are bad; such as are
before described in the preceding chapter; gluttons and
drunkards, men given to women and wine: envy not their present
prosperity, or seeming pleasure they have in the gratification of
their sensual appetites; since woe and sorrow, wounds and strife,
now attend them, and poverty and want will follow them; as well
as everlasting ruin and destruction will be their portion
hereafter; (See Gill on
Proverbs 23:17); and compare with this ( Proverbs
24:21 Proverbs
24:27 Proverbs
24:29 Proverbs
24:32 ) ; neither desire to be with them;
to be in their company; to have any conversation and fellowship
with them, which is very infectious, dangerous, and pernicious;
nor even to be in the same state, condition, and circumstances
they are in; much less to do as they do, and imitate them in
their sinful courses; as you would not choose to be with them in
hell hereafter, do not desire to be with them here.