47 The Hiphil infinitive construct of נָצַל (natsal, “to deliver”) expresses the purpose of understanding right conduct: to protect a person from the wicked. The verb נָצַל (natsal) means “to save; to deliver; to rescue,” as in snatching away prey from an animal, rescuing from enemies, plucking a brand from the fire, retrieving property, or the like. Here it portrays rescue from the course of action of the wicked.
48 The term “wicked” (רַע, ra’) means “bad, harmful, painful.” Rather than referring to the abstract concept of “wickedness” in general, the term probably refers to wicked people because of the parallelism with “those speaking perversity.”
49 Heb “man.” The singular noun אִישׁ (’ish, “man”) here will be further defined in vv. 13–15 with plural forms (verbs, nouns and suffixes). So the singular functions in a collective sense which is rendered in a plural sense in the translation for the sake of clarification and smoothness.
50 Heb “perversities.” The plural form of תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (tahpukhot) may denote a plurality of number (“perverse things”) or intensification: “awful perversity.” As here, it often refers to perverse speech (Prov 8:13; 10:31, 32; 23:33). It is related to the noun הֶפֶךְ (hefekh, “that which is contrary, perverse”) which refers to what is contrary to morality (Isa 29:16; Ezek 16:34; 246 הֶפֶךְ). The related verb הָפַךְ (hafakh, “to turn; to overturn”) is used (1) literally of turning things over, e.g., tipping over a bowl (2 Kgs 21:13) and turning over bread-cakes (Judg 7:13; Hos 7:8) and (2) figuratively of perverting things so that they are morally upside down, so to speak (Jer 23:36). These people speak what is contrary to morality, wisdom, sense, logic or the truth.
51 The articular plural active participle functions as attributive adjective for אִישׁ (’ish, “man”) in v. 12b, indicating that אִישׁ (“man”) is collective.
52 Heb “paths of uprightness.” The noun יָשָׁר (yashar, “uprightness; straightness”) is an attributive genitive. The moral life is described in Proverbs as the smooth, straight way (2:13; 4:11). The wicked abandon the clear straight path for an evil, crooked, uncertain path.
53 Heb “ways of darkness.” Darkness is often metaphorical for sinfulness, ignorance, or oppression. Their way of life lacks spiritual illumination.
54 The articular plural active participle functions as the second attributive adjective for אִישׁ (’ish, “man”) in v. 12b.
55 The Qal infinitive construct is the complementary use of the form, expressing the direct object of the participle.
56 Or “harm.”
57 Heb “the perversity of evil” (so ). The noun רָע (ra’, “evil”) functions as an attributed genitive which is modified by the construct noun תַהְפֻּכוֹת (tahpukhot, “perversity”) which functions as an attributive adjective.
58 The noun in this relative clause is an accusative of specification: The evil people are twisted with respect to their paths/conduct.
59 Heb “crooked.” The adjective עִקֵּשׁ (’iqqesh, “crooked; twisted”) uses the morphological pattern of adjectives that depict permanent bodily defects, e.g., blindness, lameness. Their actions are morally defective and, apart from repentance, are permanently crooked and twisted.
60 The Niphal participle of לוּז (luz, “devious; crooked”) describes conduct that is morally deceptive, crafty, and cunning (Isa 30:12).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

delivering you from the way of evil,

from men of perverted speech,

who forsake the paths of uprightness

to walk in the ways of darkness,

who rejoice in doing evil

and delight in the perverseness of evil,

men whose paths are crooked,

and who are devious in their ways.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,

from men whose words are perverse,

who have left the straight paths

to walk in dark ways,

who delight in doing wrong

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

whose paths are crooked

and who are devious in their ways.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

It will rescue you from the way of evil—

from anyone who says perverse things,

from those who abandon the right paths

to walk in ways of darkness,

from those who enjoy doing evil

and celebrate perversion,

whose paths are crooked,

and whose ways are devious.

NLTNew Living Translation

Wisdom will save you from evil people,

from those whose words are twisted.

These men turn from the right way

to walk down dark paths.

They take pleasure in doing wrong,

and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.

Their actions are crooked,

and their ways are wrong.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

in order to deliver you from the way of evil,

from a man who speaks devious things—

those who forsake the paths of uprightness

to walk in ways of darkness,

those who are happy to do evil,

for they delight in the deviousness of evil,

who are crooked in their ways,

and devious in their paths;

KJV 1900King James Version

To deliver thee from the way of the evil man,

From the man that speaketh froward things;

Who leave the paths of uprightness,

To walk in the ways of darkness;

Who rejoice to do evil,

And delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

Whose ways are crooked,

And they froward in their paths:

Public Domain