New International Version Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. New Living Translation Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. English Standard Version Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. Berean Standard Bible He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. Berean Literal Bible One guarding a commandment is guarding his soul; one despising His ways will die. King James Bible He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. New King James Version He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. New American Standard Bible One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die. NASB 1995 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die. NASB 1977 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. Legacy Standard Bible He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who despises his way will die. Amplified Bible He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the LORD] keeps (guards) his own life, But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die. Berean Annotated Bible He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. Christian Standard Bible The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die. Holman Christian Standard Bible The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die. American Standard Version He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die. Contemporary English Version Obey the Lord's teachings and you will live--disobey and you will die. English Revised Version He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul: but he that is careless of his ways shall die. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, [but] whoever despises the LORD's ways will be put to death. Good News Translation Keep God's laws and you will live longer; if you ignore them, you will die. International Standard Version Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die. NET Bible The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die. New Heart English Bible He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. Webster's Bible Translation He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. World English Bible He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhoever is keeping the command is keeping his soul, "" Whoever is despising His ways dies. Berean Literal Bible One guarding a commandment is guarding his soul; one despising His ways will die. Young's Literal Translation Whoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth. Smith's Literal Translation He watching the command watches his soul: he despising his ways shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever guards a commandment guards his own soul. But whoever neglects his own way will die. New American Bible Those who keep commands keep their lives, but those who despise these ways will die. New Revised Standard Version Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who keeps the law keeps his own soul; but he who despises right ways shall die. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He that keeps the commandment takes care of his soul and he that despises his ways will be killed. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that despiseth His ways shall die. Brenton Septuagint Translation He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall perish. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Man of Integrity…15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. 16He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.… Cross References He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. Proverbs 13:13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life. but he who is careless in his ways will die. Proverbs 15:10 Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. Proverbs 5:23 He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. James 1:22-25 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. … Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. … Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” 1 John 2:3-6 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. / But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: … Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous. Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Hebrews 2:1-3 We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. / For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, / how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Treasury of Scripture He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall die. keepeth Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Psalm 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. keepeth his Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. he that despiseth Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. Jump to Previous Careless Command Commandment Conduct Contemptuous Death Despises Despiseth Despising Die Dieth Fate Guards Instructions Keepeth Keeping Keeps Life Note Obeys Soul Ways WordJump to Next Careless Command Commandment Conduct Contemptuous Death Despises Despiseth Despising Die Dieth Fate Guards Instructions Keepeth Keeping Keeps Life Note Obeys Soul Ways WordProverbs 19 1. Life and ConductHe who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, Obedience to God’s commandment guards a person’s life from the destructive paths of sin. Scripture consistently joins the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and life (Deuteronomy 6:2; Proverbs 3:1–2). Such obedience is not a means of earning salvation but the fruit of reverence for God and trust in His revealed will. Jesus likewise taught that love for Him is demonstrated through keeping His commandments (John 14:15). God’s commands protect the whole person, directing the heart away from evil and toward the life He gives. Pro 4:4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words;… but he who is careless in his ways will die. A person who disregards God’s ways chooses a course leading toward ruin. Israel’s covenant history demonstrated that rebellion brought real judgment, both personally and nationally. The warning includes physical consequences that often follow sinful choices, yet it also reaches to spiritual death, for sin separates mankind from the holy God. What appears right apart from God’s counsel ends in death (Proverbs 14:12). The final remedy for sin’s wages is found only in Jesus Christ, whose gift is eternal life for those who belong to Him (Romans 6:23). Pro 15:10 Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path;… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs are intended to impart wisdom and understanding. 2. Israel The primary audience for the Proverbs, the people of Israel were to live according to God's commandments, which were central to their covenant relationship with Him. 3. The Wise and the Foolish Throughout Proverbs, these two archetypes represent those who follow God's commandments and those who disregard them, respectively. Teaching Points The Importance of ObedienceObedience to God's commandments is not just a duty but a means of preserving one's soul. It reflects a heart aligned with God's will. Consequences of Carelessness Neglecting God's ways leads to spiritual death. This carelessness is a form of rebellion against God's order. Wisdom in Action True wisdom is demonstrated through action. Keeping commandments is an active pursuit that requires diligence and intentionality. The Role of the Heart The Hebrew root for "keeps" (shamar) implies guarding or watching over. This suggests that obedience involves a heart posture of vigilance and care. Eternal Perspective The preservation of the soul points to an eternal perspective, where the choices made in this life have lasting consequences. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 19:16?2. How does Proverbs 19:16 emphasize the importance of obeying God's commandments? 3. What are the consequences of "despising his ways" according to Proverbs 19:16? 4. How can we practically "guard our life" in daily decisions? 5. Which New Testament teachings align with Proverbs 19:16's message on obedience? 6. How can Proverbs 19:16 guide us in maintaining a disciplined spiritual life? 7. What does Proverbs 19:16 mean by "keeps a commandment" in a modern context? 8. How does Proverbs 19:16 relate to the concept of obedience in Christianity? 9. What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 19:16? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 19? What Does Proverbs 19:16 Mean He who keeps a commandment- “Keeps” pictures an active guarding of God’s instructions, not a casual nod to them (see Psalm 119:2–4). - Even a single command reveals the heart’s posture of submission, like Jesus’ words: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). - Obedience aligns us with the Lord’s character and wisdom (Deuteronomy 6:17; 1 John 2:3), and keeps us on the narrow path that “leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). Preserves his soul - God binds life and blessing to obedience: “My son, do not forget my teaching… they will add length of days and years of life” (Proverbs 3:1–2). - The soul is kept safe from the ruin that sin invites (Proverbs 16:17; 1 Peter 1:9). - God’s Word “revives the soul” (Psalm 19:7), and receiving it “implanted… saves your souls” (James 1:21). But he who is careless in his ways - “Careless” carries the sense of treating God’s standards lightly, dismissing them as optional; compare “the fool is reckless and careless” (Proverbs 14:16). - Such indifference sears the conscience, hardening the heart (Hebrews 3:13). - Jesus described this person as one who “hears these words of Mine and does not act on them” and builds on sand (Matthew 7:26). Will die - Sin’s wage is death (Romans 6:23). The proverb warns that disregard for God’s commands invites both temporal consequences and eternal loss (Proverbs 11:19). - Moses framed the same choice: “I have set before you life and death… choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). - James echoes it: “When sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death” (James 1:15). summary Proverbs 19:16 draws a bright line: safeguarding God’s commands safeguards the soul, while shrugging them off courts death. Obedience isn’t drudgery; it’s the Lord’s built-in protection, steering us into life now and forever. (16) He that despiseth his ways—i.e., takes no heed to them, whether they please God or not.Shall die.—Physically (comp. Exodus 12:15; 1Corinthians 11:30), spiritually (comp. Luke 1:79); a death to be completed hereafter (Revelation 2:11). Verse 16. - Keepeth his own soul. Obedience to God's commandments preserves a man's natural and spiritual life (comp. Proverbs 13:13; Proverbs 16:17). So we read in Ecclesiastes 8:5, "Whoso keepeth the commandment (mitsvah, as here) shall feel no evil thing." He that despiseth his ways shall die. He that cares nothing what he does, whether his life pleases God or not, shall perish. Ἀπολεῖται, Septuagint; mortificabitur, Vulgate. The result is understood differently. The Khetib reads, יוּמַת (iumath), "shall be punished with death" according to the penalties enacted in the Mosaic Law. The Keri reads, יָמוּת (iamuth), "shall die," as in Proverbs 15:10; and this seems more in agreement with what we find elsewhere in the book, as in Proverbs 10:21; Proverbs 23:13. This insensate carelessness leads to ruin, whether its punishment be undertaken by outraged law. or whether it be left to the Divine retribution.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He who keepsשֹׁמֵ֣ר (šō·mêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to a commandment מִ֭צְוָה (miṣ·wāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4687: Commandment preserves שֹׁמֵ֣ר (šō·mêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to his soul; נַפְשׁ֑וֹ (nap̄·šōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion [but] he who is careless בּוֹזֵ֖ה (bō·w·zêh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 959: To disesteem in his ways דְרָכָ֣יו (ḏə·rā·ḵāw) Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action will die. יָמֽוּת׃ (yā·mūṯ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Additonal Resources Proverbs 19:16 Blue Letter BibleProverbs 19:16 Bible Gateway Proverbs 19:16 Bible.com Proverbs 19:16 NIV |
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