my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths.

The warning against pursuing the wrong path in life, is resumed from verse ten. This verse is addressed to the son, or child, as the parent should assume the role of providing adequate instruction to children, so that they can learn and know, and make smarter decisions in life.

God is our parent. We as believers are His children. And as such, God provides us with Bible doctrine which is our form of instruction for learning right from wrong, and discerning the differences so that we can make good decisions, which help us avoid problems in life, and to have a better life.

God provides doctrine for our instruction, and if we are smart, we will listen, and not only listen but pursue learning through doctrine.

The warning in this verse, is to not go the way of wicked people. Because, there is nothing to be gained by pursuing that course in life, and any gain you experience, is phony and false, and temporary at best, and the only guaranteed result, when it is all said and done, will be failure and loss.

Wickedness is a huge array of negative activities. It runs the gamut from indifference or resistance towards learning, on the one hand, to extreme overt violence on the other hand.

And no matter what your area of weakness or temptation or lust might be, this warning applies.

One wrong choice, will lead to another, and yet to another, and another. And once you start down the wrong path in life, then it becomes more and more difficult to realize that you are on the wrong path, and then to correct yourself.

The fool ignores instruction, or worse, presumes that he does not need instruction.

The wise person understands that there is always more to learn, and therefore is always open to instruction.

God bless you everyone