Parallel Verses
NET Bible
So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.
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?
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:
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 During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds. 16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed. 17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
Proverbs 25:16
When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.
Philippians 3:6
In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
Job 11:12
But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.
Job 28:28
And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
Proverbs 23:4
Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.
Matthew 6:1-7
"Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
Matthew 9:14
Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"
Matthew 15:2-9
"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat."
Matthew 23:5
They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.
Matthew 23:23-24
"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law -- justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others.
Matthew 23:29
"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
Matthew 23:38
Look, your house is left to you desolate!
Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'
Romans 10:2
For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.
Romans 11:25
For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
1 Corinthians 3:18
Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
Colossians 2:18
Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.
Colossians 2:23
Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body -- a wisdom with no true value -- they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
1 Timothy 4:3
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
James 3:13-17
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, "Woe, Woe, O great city -- in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth -- because in a single hour she has been destroyed!"