In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
This verse speaks of two very different people, “the wicked” and “he who guards his soul.” By extension, it also talks about two different “paths.” One path (the one the wicked takes) is the hard one with continuous obstacles – thorns and different kinds of traps. The one who guards his soul takes a different path (“is far from them”).
Two people, two roads and all are choices. We chose which kind of person we want to be and that guides our choices about which road we will take. These are every day choices. And when we are tired of being the wicked, and weary of the thorns and snares we can be a different person and take a different road.