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

biblegateway Pro 19:16

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

The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.

Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, but whoever despises the LORD’S ways will be put to death.

biblegateway Pro 19:16

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

Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.

bibleoremus Pro 19:16

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

Keeping the commandments keeps a person safe, but scorning the way of the LORD brings death.

biblegateway Pro 19:16

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

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die.

biblegateway Pro 19:16

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.