What does Proverbs 2:13 mean?

In verses 12 and 13, being delivered from the "evil way" is described in two "from" statements. The first discussed was those who speak falsely against us. The concept of "perverted speech" means those who are deliberately offensive or contrary. This is from the Hebrew term tahpukot.

Here in verse 13, we see the second nature of the evil way. The second "from" statement is those who leave the path of uprightness and walk in the dark. This is a typical theme in the New Testament. The entire letter of 1 John, for example, is about the contrast between walking in the light and walking in the darkness. First John 2:11 says "But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." This is the one who has left the path of uprightness and walks in the darkness.