Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

Solomon, in these verses, recommends wisdom to us as the best antidote against those distempers of mind which we are liable to, by reason of the vanity and vexation of spirit that there are in the things of this world. Here are some of the praises and the precepts of wisdom. I. The praises of wisdom. Many things are here said in its commendation, to engage us to get and retain wisdom. 1. Wisdom is necessary to the right managing and improving of our worldly possessions: Wisdom is good with an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much ,.... This is not meant of true and real righteousness, even moral righteousness, a man cannot be too holy or too righteous; but of a show and ostentation of righteousness, and of such who would be thought to be more righteous and holy than others, and therefore despise those who, as they imagine, do not come up to them; and are very rigid and censorious in their judgment of others, and very severe in their reproofs of them; and, that they may appear very righteous... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not over much wicked ,.... Not that a man should be wicked at all; but some, observing that wicked men prolong their days in wickedness, are encouraged to go into greater lengths in sin than they have yet done, and give up themselves to all iniquity; and run into excess of not, into the grossest and most scandalous enormities. Some render it, "do not disturb" or "frighten thyself" F1 אל תרשע "ne paveas", Pagninus; "ne te occupes multum, aut distrahas te, sive inquietes", some in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this ,.... This advice, as the Arabic version, in the several branches of it; neither to be over much righteous or wicked, and over much wise or foolish; to avoid the one and the other, to keep clear of extremes, and pursue the path that is safest; such advice as this it is right to lay hold on, embrace, and hold fast; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand ; from what follows concerning the fear of God; or "this and this" may be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? - תשומם tishshomem , make thyself desolate, so that thou shalt be obliged to stand alone; neither make thyself over-wise, תתחכם tithchaccam , do not pretend to abundance of wisdom. Why shouldest thou be so singular? In other words, and in modern language, "There is no need of all this watching, fasting, praying, self-denial, etc., you carry things to extremes. Why should you wish to be reputed singular and precise?" To this the man of God answers: read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? - הרבה תרשע אל al tirsha harbeh . Do not multiply wickedness, do not add direct opposition to godliness to the rest of your crimes. Why should you provoke God to destroy you before your time? Perdition will come soon enough. If you will not turn from your sins, and avoid it finally, yet keep out of it as long as you can. It cannot be supposed, except by those who are totally unacquainted with the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold or this - Do not let such an observation slip: take hold of this; do not forget that. Get what you can in an honest way; but do not forget to get true religion; for he that fears God will be saved from all evil. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

Section 3. Warnings against excesses , and praise of the golden mean , which is practical wisdom and the art of living happily. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much . The exhortation has been variously interpreted to warn against too scrupulous observance of ritual and ceremonial religion, or the mistaken piety which neglects all mundane affairs, or the Pharisaical spirit which is bitter in condemning others who fall short of one's own standard. Cox will have it that the advice signifies that a prudent man will not be very righteous, since he will gain nothing by it, nor very wicked, as he will certainly shorten his life by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish. These two injunctions are parallel and correlative to those in Ecclesiastes 7:16 concerning over-righteousness and over-wisdom. But the present verse cannot be meant, as at first sight it seems to do, to sanction a certain amount of wickedness provided it does not exceed due measure. To surmount this difficulty some have undefined to modify the term "wicked" ( rasha ), taking it to mean "engaged in worldly matters," or "not subject to... read more

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