Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Ver. 25. Lest thou learn his ways.] As a man is an imitating creature, and easily conformed to the company he keepeth. Sin is also very spreading, and more infectious than the plague: this of rash anger especially, whereunto being naturally inclined, we shall easily get a habit of frowardness. Entireness with wicked consorts is one of the strongest chains of hell, and binds us to a participation both of sin and punishment.
And get a snare to thy soul.] This is all thou art like to get by such men's company. An angry man - a master of anger, as the Hebrew here hath it, or rather one that is mastered by his anger, and enslaved thereunto - is fitly compared by one to a cock of the game, that quarrelsome creature, that is still bloody with the blood either of others or of himself. He flies upon his best friends sometimes, as Alexander did, and slays those whom he would revive again with his own heart blood. Dogs in a chase bark oft at their best friends.