Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? New Living Translation So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? English Standard Version Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Berean Standard Bible Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? King James Bible Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? New King James Version Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? New American Standard Bible Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? NASB 1995 Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? NASB 1977 Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Legacy Standard Bible Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you make yourself desolate? Amplified Bible 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? Christian Standard Bible Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? American Standard Version Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Contemporary English Version So don't destroy yourself by being too good or acting too smart! English Revised Version Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? GOD'S WORD® Translation Don't be too virtuous, and don't be too wise. Why make yourself miserable? Good News Translation So don't be too good or too wise--why kill yourself? International Standard Version Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive? Majority Standard Bible Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 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? Webster's Bible Translation 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? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not be over-righteous, nor show yourself too wise, why are you desolate? Young's Literal Translation Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate? Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not be greatly just; and thou shalt not be exceedingly wise: wherefore wilt thou be made desolate? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBe not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible “Be not just to excess, and be not overwise. Why work your own ruin? New Revised Standard Version Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBe not overrighteous; neither make yourself overwise; lest you should become stupid. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not be too righteous, and do not be too wise, lest you be stupid OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Brenton Septuagint Translation Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Limits of Human Wisdom15In 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. 16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?… Cross References Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 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. Matthew 23:23-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. / You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ... Luke 18:9-14 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: / “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. / The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ... Philippians 3:6-9 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. / But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. / More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ... Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Job 11:4-6 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’ / But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, / and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. / The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. James 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. / But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ... Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Romans 10:2-3 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. / Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 1 Corinthians 10:12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. Colossians 2:18-23 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. / He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow. / If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: ... Treasury of Scripture Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself ? be not Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 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? neither 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. 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. destroy thyself Matthew 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 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. Jump to Previous Desolate Destroy Destruction Excessively Overmuch Righteous Righteousness Ruin Shouldest Shouldst Show Thyself WiseJump to Next Desolate Destroy Destruction Excessively Overmuch Righteous Righteousness Ruin Shouldest Shouldst Show Thyself WiseEcclesiastes 7 1. remedies against vanity are, a good name2. mortification 7. patience 11. wisdom 23. The difficulty of wisdom Do not be overly righteous This phrase cautions against self-righteousness and legalism, which can lead to pride and a judgmental spirit. In the context of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher (traditionally understood as Solomon) explores the futility of human efforts to achieve perfection through one's own strength. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that righteousness is not attained by works but through faith (Romans 3:22). The Pharisees in the New Testament exemplify the dangers of being "overly righteous," as they focused on external adherence to the law while neglecting the heart (Matthew 23:23-28). and do not make yourself too wise Why should you destroy yourself? Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His reflections in Ecclesiastes are often seen as a culmination of his life experiences and insights. 2. Israel The nation to which Solomon belonged and ruled as king. The cultural and religious context of Israel during Solomon's reign provides a backdrop for understanding the text. 3. The Preacher (Qoheleth) The voice in Ecclesiastes, often identified with Solomon, who explores the meaning of life and the pursuit of wisdom. Teaching Points Balance in RighteousnessThe verse warns against an excessive pursuit of righteousness that leads to self-destruction. True righteousness is balanced and rooted in humility and dependence on God. The Danger of Self-Righteousness Being "overly righteous" can lead to pride and a judgmental spirit. It is essential to remember that our righteousness comes from Christ, not our own efforts. Wisdom and Humility Pursuing wisdom is commendable, but it must be accompanied by humility. Recognizing our limitations and the need for God's guidance is crucial. Avoiding Legalism The verse cautions against a legalistic approach to faith that focuses on external compliance rather than a genuine relationship with God. Self-Reflection and Growth Regular self-examination can help us avoid the pitfalls of self-righteousness and encourage growth in grace and truth.(16) Righteous over ? much.--The caution is against morbid scrupulosity and over-rigorism. We may illustrate by the case of the Jews, who refused to defend themselves against their enemies on the Sabbath day. The next verse is a necessary corrective to this: "Yet be cautious how thou disregardest the restraints of Law."Verse 16. - Be not righteous over much. The exhortation has been variously interpreted to warn against too scrupulous observance of ritual and ceremonial religion, or the mistaken piety which neglects all mundane affairs, or the Pharisaical spirit which is bitter in condemning others who fall short of one's own standard. Cox will have it that the advice signifies that a prudent man will not be very righteous, since he will gain nothing by it, nor very wicked, as he will certainly shorten his life by such conduct. But really Koheleth is condemning the tendency to immoderate asceticism which had begun to show itself in his day - a rigorous, prejudiced, indiscreet manner of life and conduct which made piety offensive, and afforded no real aid to the cause of religion. This arrogant system virtually dictated the laws by which Providence should be governed, and found fault with divinely ordered circumstances if they did not coincide with its professors' preconceived opinions. Such religionism might well be called being "righteous over much." Neither make thyself over wise; Septuagint, Μηδὲ σοφίζου περισσά; Vulgate, Neque plus sapias quam necesse est; better, show not thyself too wise; i.e. do not indulge in speculations about God's dealings, estimating them according to your own predilections, questioning the wisdom of his moral government. Against such perverse speculation St. Paul argues (Romans 9:19, etc.). "Thou wilt say unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?" A good principle carried to excess may bring evil results. Summum jus, summa injuria. The maxim, Μηδὲν ἀγάν, Ne quid nimis, "Moderation in all things," is taught here; and Aristotle's theory of virtue being the mean between the two extremes of excess and defect is adumbrated ('Ethic. Nicom.,' 2:6. 15, 16): though we do not see that the writer is "reproducing current Greek thought" (Plumptre), or that independent reflection and observation could not have landed him at the implied conclusion without plagiarism. Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Septuagint, Μή ποτὲ ἐκπλαγῇς, "Lest perchance thou be confounded;" Vulgate, Ne obstupescas, "Lest thou be stupefied." This is the primary meaning of the special form of the verb here used (hithp. of שׁמם), and Plumptre supposes that the author intends thereby to express the spiritual pride which accompanies fancied excellence in knowledge and conduct, and by which the possessor is puffed up (1 Timothy 3:6). But plainly it is not a mental, internal effect that is contemplated, but something that affects comfort, position, or life, like the corresponding clause in the following verse. Hitzig and Ginsburg explain the word, "Make thyself forsaken," "Isolate thyself," which can scarcely be the meaning. The Authorized Version is correct. A man who professes to be wiser than others, and. indeed, wiser than Providence, incurs the envy and animosity of his fellow-men, and will certainly be punished by God for his arrogance and presumption. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not be תְּהִ֤י (tə·hî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be overly הַרְבֵּ֔ה (har·bêh) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great righteous, צַדִּיק֙ (ṣad·dîq) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6662: Just, righteous and do not וְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not make yourself too יוֹתֵ֑ר (yō·w·ṯêr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3148: Superiority, advantage, excess wise. תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם (tiṯ·ḥak·kam) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 2449: To be wise Why לָ֖מָּה (lām·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what should you destroy yourself? תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ (tiš·šō·w·mêm) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy Links Ecclesiastes 7:16 NIVEcclesiastes 7:16 NLT Ecclesiastes 7:16 ESV Ecclesiastes 7:16 NASB Ecclesiastes 7:16 KJV Ecclesiastes 7:16 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 7:16 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 7:16 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 7:16 French Bible Ecclesiastes 7:16 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:16 Don't be overly righteous neither make yourself (Ecclesiast. 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