One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
- KJV He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
- BSB He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
- NKJV He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.
- NLT Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Keeping God's commandment guards one's life, but carelessness leads to death. Obedience is the path of life.
Overview
This proverb teaches that the one who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, while the one who despises God's ways will die. It binds obedience to life and contempt for God's instruction to destruction. The principle finds its fulfillment in the gospel, where eternal life comes through Christ, who perfectly kept God's law and gives life to all who trust and follow Him (John 14:21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Luke 10:28He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
- Prov 13:13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
- 1 Jn 5:3For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
- Luke 11:28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Prov 21:23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
- Matt 16:26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- Rev 22:14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
- Prov 29:18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
- Eccl 8:5Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
- 1 Jn 3:22and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
- Prov 3:1My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
- 1 Cor 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- Prov 22:5Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
- John 15:10–14If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
- Eccl 12:13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ezek 33:5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn’t take warning; his blood shall be on him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.
- Jer 7:23but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
- Prov 15:32He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
- John 14:21–23One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
- 1 Jn 2:3–4This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
- John 14:15If you love me, keep my commandments.
- Ps 103:18to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 19:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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