Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

Young's Literal Translation

In The King James Version

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

In Context

15The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong.

17Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Cross References

Job 11:12And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

Proverbs 23:4Labour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease, Dost thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it? Then it is not.

Ecclesiastes 12:12And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.

Matthew 9:14Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, 'Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?'

Matthew 23:5'And all their works they do to be seen by men, and they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments,

Matthew 23:29'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous,

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:12-23

The Advantages of Wisdom. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 7:16