Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Be not righteous over much - forbidding a self-made righteousness of outward performances, in which man knows not his sinfulness, and which would wrest salvation from God, instead of receiving it as the gift of His grace. It is a fanatical, proud, unloving (Isaiah 58:2), Pharisaical righteousness, void of humble faith toward God; because the "fear of God" is in antithesis to it (; ; ; Matthew 6:1). Even the godly () need affliction to teach them to unlearn it. There cannot be over much of the righteousness which is by faith. But there is over much of the righteousness that consists in punctiliousness as to external ordinances, when these are substituted for "the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, faith, and the love of God" (; ); and when they blind a man to his utter guiltiness.

Neither make thyself over wise (; ; ) - presumptuously self-sufficient, as if acquainted with the whole of the divine counsels.

Destroy thyself - expose thyself to the wrath of God by thy self- conceited wisdom; hence, to an untimely death. The Pharisees in Christ's days brought on themselves the destruction of their nation and the temple by their self-seeking righteousness and pretentious wisdom (cf. ). "Destroy thyself" answers to "perisheth" (), "righteous over much," to "a just man." Therefore, in , it is a self-justiciary, not a truly righteous man, that "perisheth in his righteousness."