Ecclesiastes 7:17 “Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die…”

Ecclesiastes 7:17

Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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

World English Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Geneva Bible 1599

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.

Darby Translation

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

Young's Literal Translation

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

Bible in Basic English

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

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Cross references

“not”

James 1:21 Ezekiel 8:17 Ezekiel 16:20 Jeremiah 2:33 Jeremiah 2:34

James 1:21 · BSB

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

Ezekiel 8:17 · BSB

“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to an…

Ezekiel 16:20 · BSB

You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?

Jeremiah 2:33 · BSB

How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.

Jeremiah 2:34 · BSB

Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things

“why”

Proverbs 10:27 Psalm 55:23 Acts 12:23 Acts 5:5 Acts 5:10 Genesis 38:7–10

Proverbs 10:27 · BSB

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

Psalm 55:23 · BSB

But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

Acts 12:23 · BSB

Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Acts 5:5 · BSB

On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

Acts 5:10 · BSB

At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Genesis 38:7–10 · BSB

But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.

Also

Job 22:16

Job 22:16 · BSB

They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

Read Ecclesiastes 7