Proverbs 24:1-2 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
‘Neither desire to be with them.’ Scripture now moves from attitude to association. It is not enough to avoid envying evil people; we must also avoid longing for their company. Companionship shapes character. Those with whom we spend the most time influence our thinking, our speech, our priorities, our values, and eventually our conduct.
Many people fall into sin not because they intended to become wicked, but because they gradually accepted the influence of ungodly companions.
An earlier warning in Proverbs: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (13:20).
This does not mean believers should never interact with unbelievers. Jesus Himself spent time with sinners to call them to repentance. Rather, it warns against forming close relationships in which the ungodly become our primary influence, our role models, or our closest companions.
Living the Word 