New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:17
17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why 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?
- 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
15I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. 16So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? 18Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes. 19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
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 you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!
- Ezekiel 8:17“Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?
- Ezekiel 16:20“Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough?
- James 1:21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
- Genesis 38:7But Er was a wicked man in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord took his life.
- 1 Samuel 25:38About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died.
- Job 15:32They will be cut down in the prime of life; their branches will never again be green.
- Psalms 55:23But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.
- Proverbs 10:27Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
- Acts 5:5As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.
- Acts 12:23Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries