Proverbs 19:16

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

He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.

Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills.

He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.

Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die.

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.

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

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.