Passage
The path of life is upwards for the wise, that he may depart from Sheol beneath.
Proverbs 15:24 (DBY)
Nearby Context
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word in its season, how good is it!
Proverbs 15:24 The path of life is upwards for the wise, that he may depart from Sheol beneath.
Proverbs 15:25 Jehovah plucketh up the house of the proud; but he establisheth the boundary of the widow.
Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the evil [man] are an abomination to Jehovah; but pure words are pleasant.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "path", "life", "upwards", "wise", "depart", "sheol", and "beneath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "path" and "life", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The nearby context moves from verse 23's "A man hath joy by the answer..." into verse 25's "Jehovah plucketh up the house of the...", so "path" and "life" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "path" and "life" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.