Proverbs 15:24 (DRB)

Passage

The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:22 Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.

Proverbs 15:23 A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best.

Proverbs 15:24 The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell.

Proverbs 15:25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.

Proverbs 15:26 Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "path", "life", "above", "wise", "decline", "lowest", and "hell". 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 rejoiceth in the sentence of..." into verse 25's "The Lord will destroy the house of...", 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.