Parallel Verses
American Standard Version
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest 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?
A Conservative Version
Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise. Why should 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 have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
Proverbs 25:16
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Philippians 3:6
as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found 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 one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
Job 11:12
But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt.
Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.
Proverbs 23:4
Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
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
Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 9:14
Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Matthew 15:2-9
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments ,
Matthew 23:23-24
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.
Matthew 23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,
Matthew 23:38
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Luke 18:12
I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.
Romans 10:2
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.
Colossians 2:18
Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:3
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.
James 3:13-17
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.