Proverbs chapter 4

vs 10

These are now Solomon's words, echoing those of his father in vs 4.

vs 11

Wisdom is by its definition the straight path, and Solomon wants his kids to know he's not messing them around.

vs 12

Such is the life of walking along the straight path - it's the easiest one to walk on in terms of affecting your walking. It doesn't always mean it's the easiest path to walk in terms of where you're going.

vs 13

The constant repetition of this idea, in this poetic style, gives you the strong idea that wisdom is valuable. Duh.

vs 14

So now we see the mirror of vs 11. The path of the wicked is a different road to the path of wisdom.

vs 15

Don't even set foot on that road! If you come to a crossroad and you find that this is the only road to walk on, don't step on it, just turn around and walk the other way, find a different route.

vs 16

Evil compels those who are not on the road of wisdom. How true! When you start walking on that road, it's like you can't help but do evil things, and the desire for them is constant.

vs 17

We've shifted metaphors here, from roads to consumables. But it shows you just how all-pervading wickedness becomes. Not only does it guide their steps, but it sustains them too. Again violence rears its head - violence is obviously as tied up in wickedness and foolishness as righteousness is to wisdom.

vs 18

Which I suppose is good... perhaps we will learn more from the contrast in the next verse. This most probably goes along the lines of "good people do their work during the day, evil people do their wickedness at night". Except shepherds.