Ecclesiastes 7:16

Ecclesiastes 7:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:16

14In 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. 15In 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? 17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 word by word

אַל־תְּהִ֤י צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם יוֹתֵ֑ר לָ֖מָּה תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Do notאַל'al · notH408
• beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• overlyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• make yourself tooיוֹתֵרyôthêr · advantageH3148
• wiseחָכַםchâkam · be wiseH2449
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• should you destroy yourselfשָׁמֵםshâmêm · be desolate: destroyedH8074

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:16

• Proverbs 25:16If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
• Matthew 6:1“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.
• Matthew 9:14Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
• Matthew 15:2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
• Matthew 23:5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
• Luke 18:12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
• Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
• Philippians 3:6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
• 1 Timothy 4:3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• Ecclesiastes 12:12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
• Genesis 3:6When 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.
• Job 11:12But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
• Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
• Proverbs 23:4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
• Romans 11:25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
• Romans 12:3For 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.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? - תשומם tishshomem, make thyself desolate, so that thou shalt be obliged to stand alone; neither make thyself over-wise, תתחכם tithchaccam, do not pretend to abundance of wisdom. Why shouldest thou be so singular? In other words, and in modern language, "There is no need of all this watching, fasting, praying, self-denial, etc., you carry things to extremes. Why should you wish to be reputed singular and precise?" To…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 The days of my vanity - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note). The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances (described in Ecclesiastes 7:15) of such crooked work so as to make it straight, that thou art…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16No matter how hard we work, there is always more to do, and we might harm ourselves in the process.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Holden makes Ec 7:16 the scoffing inference of the objector, and Ec 7:17 the answer of Solomon, now repentant. So (1Co 15:32) the skeptic's objection; (1Co 15:33) the answer. However, "Be not righteous over much," may be taken as Solomon's words, forbidding a self-made righteousness of outward performances, which would wrest salvation from God, instead of receiving it as the gift of His grace. It is a fanatical, pharisaical righteousness, separated…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:16

• Prudence
• Wisdom
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Synagogue, the Great
• Wisdom

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings