Parallel Verses
Lexham Expanded Bible
Do not be excessively righteous, and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself.
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?
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 I have seen all these things in my vain life: Sometimes a righteous man perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked man lives a long life in [spite of] his evil. 16 Do not be excessively righteous, and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself. 17 Do not act excessively wicked, and do not be a fool, lest you die before your time.
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think {sensibly}, as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one.
Proverbs 25:16
[If] you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
Philippians 3:6
according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food and that it [was] a delight to the eyes, and the tree was desirable to make [one] wise, then she took from its fruit and she ate. And she gave [it] also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Job 11:12
But {an empty-headed person} will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born [as] a human being.
Job 28:28
And to the human beings he said, 'Look, the fear of the Lord [is] wisdom, and to depart from evil [is] understanding.'"
Proverbs 23:4
Do not tire [in order] to become rich; out of your understanding, [may you] desist
Ecclesiastes 12:12
My son, be careful {about anything beyond these things}. For the writing of books is endless, and too much study {is wearisome}.
Matthew 6:1-7
"And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; {otherwise} you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 9:14
Then the disciples of John approached him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"
Matthew 15:2-9
"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat {a meal}."
Matthew 23:5
And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels long.
Matthew 23:23-24
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}.
Matthew 23:29
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,
Matthew 23:38
Behold, your house has been left to you desolate
Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.'
Romans 10:2
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 11:25
For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you will not be wise {in your own sight}, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks [himself] to be wise among you in this age, let him become a fool, in order that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:20
and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
Colossians 2:18
Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail [about] [the things] which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
Colossians 2:23
which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:3
who forbid marrying [and insist on] abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,
James 3:13-17
Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.
Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, "Woe, woe, the great city, in which all those who had ships on the sea became rich from her prosperity, because in one hour she has been laid waste!"