Ecclesiastes 7:16 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

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

English ASV

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

English Amplified

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]?

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

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]?

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

So do not try to be too good or too wise. That might cause you to have trouble.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

So why ruin your life? Don't be too good or too bad, and don't be too wise or too foolish. Why should you die before your time?

Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

English GNT (Good News Translation)

So don't be too good or too wise—why kill yourself?

English God's Word - GW 1995

Don't be too virtuous, and don't be too wise. Why make yourself miserable?

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Don't be excessively righteous, and don't be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you make yourself desolate?

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be extremely wise. Why ruin yourself?

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

"Be not just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Don't claim to be better than you are. And don't claim to be wiser than you are. Why destroy yourself?

English NIV

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise- why destroy yourself?

English NKJ 1982

Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

English NLT

So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?

English Tyndale 1537

Therefore be thou neither too righteous nor over wise, that thou perish not:

Ecclesiastes 7:16 — Compare Translations