The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:17 Explained

Ecclesiastes 7:17

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

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

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 7:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 7

1  remedies against vanity are, a good name
2  mortification
7  patience
11  wisdom
23  The difficulty of wisdom

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 7:17 mean?

not do be wicked overly nor be foolish Why should you die before your time
אַל־ תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־ תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א ؟ עִתֶּֽךָ

תִּרְשַׁ֥ע  do  be  wicked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָשַׁע  
Sense: to be wicked, act wickedly.
הַרְבֵּ֖ה  overly 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
וְאַל־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
סָכָ֑ל  foolish 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָכָל  
Sense: fool.
לָ֥מָּה  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תָמ֖וּת  should  you  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בְּלֹ֥א  before 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
؟ עִתֶּֽךָ  your  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.