His lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

But generally the allusions to death in the Solomonic proverbs do not seem to allude to physical death. In x. 2 “virtue delivereth from death” is in antithesis to the unprofitableness of evil treasures, and in 16:

The reward of a virtuous man is life;

The gain of the wicked is sin.

Here “life” and “sin” are in opposition. Other sentences to be compared are:

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

To avoid the snares of death. (xiii. 14, cf. the Jahvist xiv. 27.)

Understanding is a fountain of life to those who possess it,

But the snare of fools is Folly. (xvi. 22.)

He that hateth reproof shall die. (xv. 10.)