Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise. Why should thou destroy thyself?
New American Standard Bible
Do not be excessively
King James Version
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Holman Bible
Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise.
International Standard Version
Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive?
American Standard Version
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Amplified
Do not be excessively righteous [like those given to self-conceit], and do not be overly wise (pretentious)—why should you bring yourself to ruin?
Bible in Basic English
Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?
Darby Translation
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Julia Smith Translation
Thou shalt not be greatly just; and thou shalt not be exceedingly wise: wherefore wilt thou be made desolate?
King James 2000
Be not overly righteous; neither make yourself overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Do not be excessively righteous, and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself.
Modern King James verseion
Do not be righteous overmuch, neither make yourself overwise; why destroy yourself?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Therefore be thou neither too righteous nor over wise, that thou perish not:
NET Bible
So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.
New Heart English Bible
Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
The Emphasized Bible
Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, - wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?
Webster
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?
World English Bible
Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Youngs Literal Translation
Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?
Topics
Interlinear
Rabah
Shamem
References
Fausets
Morish
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 7:16
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Law Of Retribution Does Not Always Work'But It Does Sometimes
15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs [his life] in his evil-doing. 16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise. Why should thou destroy thyself? 17 Do not much wrong, nor be thou a fool. Why should thou die before thy time?
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to over think beyond what he ought to think, but to think so as to think soundly, as God has apportioned to each man a measure of faith.
Proverbs 25:16
Have thou found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
Philippians 3:6
regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness in law, having become blameless.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate. And she also gave to her husband with her, and h
Job 11:12
But vain man is void of understanding. Yea, man is born [as] a wild donkey's colt.
Job 28:28
And to man he said, Behold, the fear of LORD, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Matthew 6:1-7
Be careful not to do your charity before men in order to be seen by them, otherwise ye have no reward from your Father in the heavens.
Matthew 9:14
Then the disciples of John come to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but thy disciples fast not?
Matthew 15:2-9
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do in order to be seen by men. And they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the hems of their garments.
Matthew 23:23-24
Woe to you, scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye tithe the mint and the anise and the cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law--justice and mercy and faith. These things must be done, and not neglecting t
Matthew 23:29
Woe to you, scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchers of the righteous,
Matthew 23:38
Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Luke 18:12
I fast twice per Sabbath. I tithe all things, as many as I acquire.
Romans 10:2
For I testify to them that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 11:25
For I do not want you, brothers, to be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise according to yourselves, that a callousness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in.
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let not one man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
and again, Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are vain.
Colossians 2:18
Let no man umpire against you insisting on self-mortification, and worship of the heavenly agents, intruding in things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,
Colossians 2:23
Which having, are indeed a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and self-mortification, and austerity of the body--not in any value against indulgence of the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:3
forbidding to marry, to abstain from foods, which God created for partaking with thankfulness by those who believe and know the truth.
James 3:13-17
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show from his good behavior his works in mildness of wisdom.
Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried out, weeping and mourning, and saying, Alas, alas, the great city in which all who had ships in the sea became rich from her luxuriance! Because in one hour she was devastated.