¹⁶Be not righteous over much; ^eneither make thyself ^fover wise: why shouldest thou ^†destroy thyself? ¹⁷Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: ^gwhy shouldest thou die ^†before thy time?

Read in Logos

Footnotes

fSee ch. 2:15.
†Heb. be desolate? See Ps. 143:4.
gSee Prov. 10:27.
†Heb. not in thy time? Job 22:16. So Job 15:32.

Cross references

e Ecclus. 7:5?

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Do not be overrighteous,

neither be overwise—

why destroy yourself?

Do not be overwicked,

and do not be a fool—

why die before your time?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

NLTNew Living Translation

So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Do not be excessively righteous,

and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself.

Do not act excessively wicked,

and do not be a fool, lest you die before your time.