Ecclesiastes 7:16 {17}
Good News Translation
So don't be too good or too wise--why kill yourself?

New Revised Standard Version
Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?

Contemporary English Version
So don't destroy yourself by being too good or acting too smart!

New American Bible
“Be not just to excess, and be not overwise. Why work your own ruin?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

be not

Proverbs 25:16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.

Matthew 6:1-7 Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven. . . .

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees, fast often, but thy disciples do not fast?

Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Matthew 23:5,23,24,29 And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their fringes. . . .

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.

Romans 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Philippians 3:6 According to zeal, persecuting the church of God: According to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.

1 Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by them that have known the truth.

neither

Ecclesiastes 12:12 More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

Genesis 3:6 And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat.

Job 11:12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass's colt.

Job 28:28 And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.

Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence.

Romans 11:25 For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery (lest you should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles should come in.

Romans 12:3 For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.

1 Corinthians 3:18,20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. . . .

Colossians 2:18,23 Let no man seduce you, willing in humility and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh: . . .

James 3:13-17 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, among you? Let him shew, by a good contestation, his work in the meekness of wisdom. . . .

destroy thyself

Matthew 23:38 Behold, your house shall be left to you, desolate.

Revelation 18:19 And they cast dust upon their heads and cried, weeping and mourning, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, wherein all were made rich, that had ships at sea, by reason of her prices. For, in one hour she is made desolate.

Context
The Limits of Human Wisdom
15These 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. 16Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.17Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.…
Cross References
Romans 12:3
For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.

Philippians 3:6
According to zeal, persecuting the church of God: According to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.

Proverbs 25:16
Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.

Ecclesiastes 7:15
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