Parallel Verses
Bible in Basic English
Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?
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?
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?
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 These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing. 16 Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you? 17 Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time?
Cross References
Romans 12:3
But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself, but to have wise thoughts, as God has given to every one a measure of faith.
Proverbs 25:16
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
Philippians 3:6
In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and gave it to her husband.
Job 11:12
And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.
Job 28:28
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
Proverbs 23:4
Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money
Ecclesiastes 12:12
And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
Matthew 6:1-7
Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 9:14
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees frequently go without food, but your disciples do not?
Matthew 15:2-9
Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? for they take food with unwashed hands.
Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do so as to be seen by men: for they make wide their phylacteries, and the edges of their robes,
Matthew 23:23-24
A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you make men give a tenth of all sorts of sweet-smelling plants, but you give no thought to the more important things of the law, righteousness, and mercy, and faith; but it is right for you to do these, and not to let the others be undone.
Matthew 23:29
A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you put up buildings for housing the dead bodies of the prophets, and make fair the last resting-places of good men, and say,
Matthew 23:38
See, your house is made waste
Luke 18:12
Twice in the week I go without food; I give a tenth of all I have.
Romans 10:2
For I give witness of them that they have a strong desire for God, but not with knowledge.
Romans 11:25
For it is my desire, brothers, that this secret may be clear to you, so that you may not have pride in your knowledge, that Israel has been made hard in part, till all the Gentiles have come in;
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man have a false idea. If any man seems to himself to be wise among you, let him become foolish, so that he may be wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
And again, The Lord has knowledge of the reasonings of the wise, that they are nothing.
Colossians 2:18
Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind,
Colossians 2:23
These things seem to have a sort of wisdom in self-ordered worship and making little of oneself, and being cruel to the body, not honouring it by giving it its natural use.
1 Timothy 4:3
Who keep men from being married and from taking food which God made to be taken with praise by those who have faith and true knowledge.
James 3:13-17
Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
Revelation 18:19
And they put dust on their heads, and were sad, weeping and crying, and saying, Sorrow, sorrow for the great town, in which was increased the wealth of all who had their ships on the sea because of her great stores! for in one hour she is made waste.