Parallel Verses
King James Version
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
New American Standard Bible
Do not be excessively
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?
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 things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the 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
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Job 11:12
For vain man would be wise, though man be born like 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
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
And further, by these, 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 alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 9:14
Then came 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 for to be seen of men: 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 pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres 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 possess.
Romans 10:2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Colossians 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
James 3:13-17
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.