Ecclesiastes 7:17

Ecclesiastes 7:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:17

15All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness. 16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all. 19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 word by word

אַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

• Beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:17

• Jeremiah 2:33How dost thou trim thy way to seek love! Therefore hast thou also accustomed thy ways to wickedness.
• Ezekiel 8:17And he said unto me, Seest thou, son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here, that they yet fill the land with violence, and keep provoking me afresh to anger? And behold, they put the branch to their nose.
• Ezekiel 16:20And thou didst take thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hadst borne unto me, and these didst thou sacrifice unto them, to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,
• James 1:21Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, accept with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
• Genesis 38:7And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah, and Jehovah slew him.
• 1 Samuel 25:38And it came to pass in about ten days that Jehovah smote Nabal, and he died.
• Job 15:32It shall be complete before his day, and his branch shall not be green.
• Psalms 55:23And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.
• Proverbs 10:27The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
• Acts 5:5And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard [it].
• Acts 12:23And immediately an angel of [the] Lord smote him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he expired, eaten of worms.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? - הרבה תרשע אל al tirsha harbeh . Do not multiply wickedness, do not add direct opposition to godliness to the rest of your crimes. Why should you provoke God to destroy you before your time? Perdition will come soon enough. If you will not turn from your sins, and avoid it finally, yet keep out of it as long as you can. It cannot be supposed, except by those who are…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. 17Do not be excessively wicked: Foolish wickedness can lead to an early death (for example, 1 Samuel 25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. over much wicked--so worded, to answer to "righteous over much." For if not taken thus, it would seem to imply that we may be wicked a little. "Wicked" refers to "wicked man" (Ec 7:15); "die before thy time," to "prolongeth his life," antithetically. There may be a wicked man spared to "live long," owing to his avoiding gross excesses (Ec 7:15). Solomon says, therefore, Be not so foolish (answering antithetically to "over wise," Ec 7:16), as to run to…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:17

• Prudence
• Wicked (People)
• Wisdom

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