Ecclesiastes 7:16
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
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.
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?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
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 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.
Read in contextProverbs 25:16
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Read in contextColossians 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,
Read in contextJames 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.
Read in contextMatthew 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.
Read in context1 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.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 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.
Read in contextGenesis 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.
Read in context