Ecclesiastes 7:16
14 In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.
15 In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
- KJV
- Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
- WEB
- Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
- ASV
- Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
- DARBY
- Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
- BLB
- Do not be overly righteous, and not overly wise yourself—why should you be desolate?
- ÅB
- Vær ikke altfor rettferdig og te deg ikke overvettes vis! hvorfor vil du ødelegge deg selv[^2]?
- OTB
- Vær ikke overdrevent rettferdig, og vær ikke altfor vis— hvorfor skulle du bringe trøbbel over deg selv?
- B1930
- Vær ikke altfor rettferdig og te dig ikke overvettes vis! hvorfor vil du ødelegge dig selv? / < nemlig ved fariseisk egenrettferdighet og selvklokskap; LUK 18, 11.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
Read in contextProverbs 25:16
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
Read in contextColossians 2:18
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
Read in contextJames 3:13–17
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Read in contextMatthew 6:1–7
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 12:12
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
Read in contextGenesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
Read in context