19 Bible Verses about Keeping Oneself Alive

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, So says Jehovah, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surely go forth to the king of Babylon's rulers, then your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire. And you shall live, and your house.

He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the plague. But he who goes out and falls to the Chaldeans who are all around you, he shall live, and his life shall be his prize.

So says Jehovah, He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the plague. But he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life as a prize, and shall live.

I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. For why should this city be laid waste?

Behold now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

And now come, please let me give you counsel, and save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

But if you warn the righteous so that the righteous does not sin, and if he does not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul.

Yet if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

Because with lies you have saddened the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and have made the hands of the wicked strong, so that he should not turn from his wicked way, by promising him life;

until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and of honey, and live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he deceives you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us.

nor shall he who handles the bow stand. And the swift-footed shall not save; and the horse rider shall not save his life.

And refuge shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his power, nor shall the mighty deliver his life;

Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for My sake, he shall save it.

He who finds his life shall lose it. And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.

For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it.

Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

By your patience you will gain your souls.