Ecclesiastes 7:16-19 in English

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

¹⁷ Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

¹⁶ Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

¹⁷ Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

¹⁸ It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

¹⁹ Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

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

¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

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

¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

¹⁶ I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

¹⁷ Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

¹⁸ Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

¹⁹ It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

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

¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city.

¹⁶ So do not think that you are very righteous and do not think that you are very wise, because if you think those things, you will destroy yourself.

¹⁷ If you do what is evil or do what is foolish, you might die while you are still young.

¹⁸ Continue to avoid doing what is evil and doing what is foolish; avoid doing both of those things by continually revering God.

¹⁹ If you are wise, you will be more powerful/influential than the ten most powerful/influential men in your city.

¹⁶ I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

¹⁷ Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

¹⁸ Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

¹⁹ It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

¹⁷ Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time?

¹⁸ It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.

¹⁹ Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.

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

¹⁷ Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men that are in a city.

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.

¹⁷ Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

¹⁸ Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

¹⁹ It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.

¹⁶ Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?

¹⁷ On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?

¹⁸ You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.

¹⁹ Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.

¹⁶ In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.

¹⁷ I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his iustice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.

¹⁸ Be not thou iust ouermuch, neither make thy selfe ouerwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?

¹⁹ Be not thou wicked ouermuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?

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

¹⁷ Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

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

¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

¹⁶ Be not righteous over much; neither show thyself over wise: why wouldst thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷ Be not wicked over much, and be no fool: why wouldst thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldst take hold of that, and that also from this thou withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God will come forth out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom giveth more strength to the wise than ten rulers which were in the city.

¹⁶ Be not very just; Neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

¹⁷ Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: Lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

¹⁸ It is well for thee to hold fast by this; Also by this defile not thy hand: For to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

¹⁹ Wisdom will help the wise man More than ten mighty men which are in the city.

¹⁶ Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷ Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

¹⁶ Do not be self-righteous, wise in your own eyes. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Do not be too wicked or foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this wisdom, and that you should not let go of righteousness. For the person who fears God will meet all his obligations.

¹⁹ Wisdom is powerful in the wise man, more than ten rulers in a city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

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

¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

¹⁶ Do not thou be just or rightwise over much, neither understand thou more than is needful; lest thou be astonied.

¹⁷ Do thou not wickedly much, and do not thou be a fool; lest thou die in a time not thine.

¹⁸ It is good, that thou sustain a just or rightwise man; but also withdraw thou not thine hand from him; for he that dreadeth God, is not negligent of anything.

¹⁹ Wisdom hath strengthened a wise man, over ten princes of a city.

¹⁶ Do not thou be just over much, neither understand thou more than is needful; lest thou be astonied. (Do not thou be too good, nor understand thou more than is useful; lest thou be regarded with contempt, or with derision.)

¹⁷ Do thou not wickedly much, and do not thou be a fool; lest thou die in a time not thine. (Do not thou do many wicked things, and do not be a fool; lest thou die before thy time.)

¹⁸ It is good, that thou sustain a just man; but also withdraw thou not thine hand from him; for he that dreadeth God, is not negligent of anything. (It is good that thou sustain the one, but also do not thou withdraw thy hand from the other; for he who feareth God, is not negligent of anything.)

¹⁹ Wisdom hath strengthened a wise man, over ten princes of a city. (Wisdom can strengthen the wise, more than ten leaders of a city.)

¹⁶ Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

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

¹⁸ It is good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

¹⁹ The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.