משלי, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ב׳

Associating with corrupt individuals carries hidden dangers and deep deception. People who base their lives on wrongdoing offer no true benefit to those around them, and their character makes them entirely untrustworthy [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their entire existence, both internally and externally, revolves around shameful actions and dishonesty.

The inner focus of these individuals is firmly rooted in evil. In the privacy of their own minds, they constantly plan robbery, destruction, and ruin. Outwardly, the words that leave their lips are filled with lies, injustice, and harm [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Maintaining this web of falsehood actually requires a great deal of effort on their part, driven entirely by their dark desires and wickedness [רלב״ג].

This outward behavior creates a deceptive image that can easily tempt an innocent bystander. A person might look at the success of the wicked and want to join them, mistakenly believing that they built their wealth through honest means. In reality, while they secretly plot to steal and gather money illegally, they publicly claim that their possessions were earned through hard work and honest effort. They use this lie specifically to mislead society and prevent anyone from discovering their true, destructive intentions [אלשיך].

Beyond the trap of this deception, getting close to such people presents a double danger, making it clear why no one should envy them or seek their company. First, their apparent success is an illusion. A person who constantly plots the ruin of others actually lives in a state of constant fear, terrified of the destruction that will inevitably fall upon himself. Second, simply spending time in their presence exposes a person to their constant stream of lies and toxic words. This prolonged exposure can easily influence an innocent person, slowly teaching him to copy their harmful behavior [מלבי״ם]. Therefore, the only safe path is to keep a complete distance from them and their shameful ways [מצודת דוד].