Proverbs 19:16

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. HE THAT KEEPETH THE COMMANDMENT (NAMELY, OF GOD) KEEPETH HIS OWN SOUL; (BUT) HE THAT DESPISETH HIS WAYS (HE THAT IS NEGLIGENT IN HIS WAYS) SHALL DIE. So the Hebrew margin, or Qeri', reads, yaamuwt (H4191). But the Kethibh, or Hebrew text, yumawt (H4191), 'shall be put to death:' the more forcible reading....

KEEPETH HIS OWN SOUL - i. e., His life in the truest and highest sense....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 19:1 BETTER IS THE POOR THAT WALKTH IN HIS INTEGRITY. The word for "poor" is, here and in Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 19:22, _rash, _which signifies "poor" in opposition to "rich." In the present reading of the second clause, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool, there seems to be a failure in antithesis, unless we can understand the fool as a rich fool. This, the repetition of the maxim in Proverbs 28:6 ("Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich"), would lead one to admit. The Vulgate accordingly has, Quam dives torquem

HE THAT KEEPETH THE COMMANDMENT,.... Either of parents, as children ought to do; or of masters, as servants should; or of kings and princes, as is the duty of subjects in all things lawful: or rather of God; every command of his, whether of a moral or positive nature, which, though they cannot be perfectly kept, yet should as much as in man lies, in faith, from a principle of love, and to the glory of God: and such a man KEEPETH HIS OWN SOUL, or "observes" s it; he shows that he has a concern for its welfare and peace; for though peace does not arise from keeping the commandments of God, yet such have great peace of soul who do love and keep the law of God; though there is no reward for, yet there is a reward in keeping the divine commands; though salvation is not hereby, yet blessed are they that do his commands; by which it appears they have a right to enter into the city, into eterna...

CHAPTER 19:1-19 FURTHER PROVERBS ON PERSONAL INSTRUCTION One may be poor, but walking in integrity, he is far ahead of him who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Then we find proverbs about fretting against the Lord; warning against false witness and speaking lies and other matters. We call special attention to Proverbs 19:12 . _ The King's wrath is as the roaring of a lion._ But his favour is as dew upon the grass. It may be applied to Him who is The Lamb of God and also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Some day He will roar in His displeasure and manifest the wrath, so well deserved by the world. But even then His grace will be revealed, for in wrath He will remember mercy, the mercy promised to Israel. “I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth its roots as Lebanon”...

PROVERBS 19. A shrewd turn of sarcasm in Proverbs 19:3 suggests the attitude of practical wisdom towards that questioning of the moral government of the world which we find in Job. PROVERBS 19:1. FOOL: read rich, as in Proverbs 28:6. Proverbs 19:2 a. Both RV and RVm are unsound grammatically. The lit. rendering shows that the clause is defective, Also without knowledge of the soul. is not good. Some verb expressing action is required. Proverbs 19:2 b. sinneth: read _mg._ The idea is more haste less speed.

KEEPETH. guardeth. DIE. die prematurely....

_despiseth_ i.e. pays no heed to them ( IS CARELESS of, R.V.; negligit, Vulg.), through a contemptuous disregard of "the commandment" which should regulate them. Similarly for _despise not_, A. V., we have _regard not lightly_, R.V. in Hebrews 12:5. Contrast Proverbs 16:17....

TEXT Proverbs 19:11-20 11. The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12. The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass. 13. A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14. House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. 15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die. 17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again. 18. Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction. 19.

19:16 of (d-13) Lit. 'despiseth.'...