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Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
EasyEnglish Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
EasyEnglish Bible
16 So do not try to be too good or too wise.
That might cause you to have trouble.
17 But do not be too wicked. Do not be a fool.
That might cause you to die when you are still young.
18 Remember both these things.
Do not forget either of them.
You can do that if you respect God and you obey him.[a]
Footnotes
- 7:18 The Teacher is saying that the important thing is to follow God's way in our lives. We should not do wicked or foolish things. Also, we should not think that if we do good things, our lives will be safe.
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
King James Version
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.
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Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New King James Version
16 (A)Do not be overly righteous,
(B)Nor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overly wicked,
Nor be foolish:
(C)Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you grasp this,
And also not remove your hand from the other;
For he who (D)fears God will [a]escape them all.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit. come forth from all of them
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
English Standard Version
16 Be not overly righteous, and do not (A)make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. (B)Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of (C)this, and from (D)that (E)withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
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EasyEnglish Bible (EASY)
EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.