Passage
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Proverbs 15:24 (KJV)
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 spoken in due season, how good is it!
Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Proverbs 15:25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "life", "above", "wise", "depart", "hell", and "beneath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "life" and "above", 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 "The LORD will destroy the house of...", so "life" and "above" 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 "life" and "above" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.