Proverbs 24:19 - Exposition

Fret not thyself because of evil men (comp. Proverbs 24:1 and Psalms 37:1 ). The verb ( charah ) means "to burn," "to be angry;" so here we may render, "Be not enraged on account of evil doers." The anger would arise on account of the apparent inequitable distribution of blessings. St. Jerome has, Ne contendas cum pessimis; Septuagint, "Rejoice not over ( ἐπὶ ) evildoers." Neither be thou envious at the wicked; i . e . do not fancy that their prosperity is to be desired, nor be led to imitate their doings in order to secure like success. The new verse shows the solemn reason for this warning.