Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 2:8

"That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints." — Proverbs 2:8 (ASV)

saints - The devout and God-fearing. Compare (Psalms 85:8) etc. The occurrence of the word here, in a book that became more and more prominent as prophetic utterances ceased, probably helped to determine its application in the period of the Maccabean struggles to those who especially claimed for themselves the title of “devout” (Chasidim, the ̓Ασιδαῖοι Asidaioi of 1 Maccabees 7:13).