English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:17
17Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
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?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
- New Living Translation (NLT)On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:17
15In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. 19Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:17 word by word
אַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:17
- Jeremiah 2:33"How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.
- Ezekiel 8:17Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose.
- Ezekiel 16:20And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter
- James 1:21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
- Genesis 38:7But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death.
- 1 Samuel 25:38And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
- Job 15:32It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.
- Psalms 55:23But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
- Proverbs 10:27The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
- Acts 5:5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
- Acts 12:23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries