Ecclesiastes 7:16 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹⁶ Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁶ Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise–why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Common English Bible

¹⁶ Don’t be too righteous or too wise, or you may be dumbfounded.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁶ These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 Cross References

Genesis 3:6

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

Job 11:12

But the stupid will get understanding when a wild ass is born human.

Job 28:28

And he said to humankind, ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

Proverbs 23:4

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.

Proverbs 25:16

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest, having too much, you vomit it up.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Matthew 23:29

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,

Matthew 23:38

See, your house is left to you, desolate.

Matthew 23:5

They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

Matthew 9:14

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Luke 18:12

I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’

Romans 10:2

For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.

Romans 11:25

I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

1 Corinthians 3:18

Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.

1 Corinthians 3:20

and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Philippians 3:6

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Colossians 2:18

Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, initiatory visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,

Colossians 2:23

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.

1 Timothy 4:3

They forbid marriage and abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Revelation 18:19

And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in one hour she has been laid waste.”