Ecclesiastes 7:17 cpdv — Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid."

— Ecclesiastes 7:17, Catholic Public Domain Version

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Ecclesiastes 7:17 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 7 — Context

14

Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.

15

In good times, enjoy good things, but beware of an evil time. For just as God has established the one, so also the other, in order that man may not find any just complaint against him.

16

I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.

17

Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.

18

Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.

19

It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.

20

Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 7:17 say?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 7:17 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 17.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 7:17.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 7:17 in?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 7:17?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 reads (CPDV): “Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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