Proverbs 19:16

The one who obeys commandments guards ¹  his life; the one who despises his ways ²  will die. ³ 

Ps 103:18; Pr 3:1; Pr 13:13; Pr 15:32; Pr 16:17; Pr 21:23; Pr 22:5; Pr 29:18; Ec 8:5; Ec 12:13; Jer 7:23; Eze 33:5; Mt 16:26; Lu 10:28; Lu 11:28; Joh 14:15,21-23; Joh 15:10-14; 1Co 7:19; 1Jo 2:3,4; 1Jo 3:22; 1Jo 5:3; Re 22:14

¹ tn The verb שָׁמַר (shamar) is repeated twice in this line but with two different senses, creating a polysemantic wordplay: “he who obeys/keeps (ֹֹשׁמֵר, shomer) the commandment safeguards/keeps (שֹׁמֵר, shomer) his life.”

² sn The expression his ways could refer either (1) to the conduct of the individual himself, or (2) to the commandments as the Lord’s ways. If the latter is the case, then the punishment is more certain.

³ tc The Kethib is יָוְמֻת (yavmut), “will be put to death,” while the Qere reads יָמוּת (yamut, “will die”). The Qere is the preferred reading and is followed by most English versions.