The path of life is upward ¹  for the wise person, ²  to ³  keep him from going downward to Sheol. ⁴ 

biblegateway Pro 15:24

The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.

For the discerning the path of life leads upward, so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.

biblegateway Pro 15:24

The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.

The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

bibleoremus Pro 15:24

For the wise the path of life leads upward, in order to avoid Sheol below.

For the prudent the path of life leads upwards and keeps them clear of Sheol below.

biblegateway Pro 15:24

The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.

The way of life [is] above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

biblegateway Pro 15:24

The path of life is upward ¹  for the wise person, ²  to ³  keep him from going downward to Sheol. ⁴ 

¹ tn There is disagreement over the meaning of the term translated “upward.” The verse is usually taken to mean that “upward” is a reference to physical life and well-being (cf. NCV), and “going down to Sheol” is a reference to physical death, that is, the grave, because the concept of immortality is said not to appear in the book of Proverbs. The proverb then would mean that the wise live long and healthy lives. But W. McKane argues (correctly) that “upwards” in contrast to Sheol, does not fit the ways of describing the worldly pattern of conduct and that it is only intelligible if taken as a reference to immortality (Proverbs [OTL], 480). The translations “upwards” and “downwards” are not found in the LXX. This has led some commentators to speculate that these terms were not found in the original, but were added later, after the idea of immortality became prominent. However, this is mere speculation.

² tn Heb “to the wise [man],” because the form is masculine.

³ tn The term לְמַעַן (lema’an, “in order to”) introduces a purpose clause; the path leads upward in order to turn the wise away from Sheol.

⁴ tn Heb “to turn from Sheol downward”; cf. NAB “the nether world below.”