16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou [¹]destroy thyself?
[¹] Hebrew be desolate.
Do not be then righteous to excess, or make thyself wise too confidently: why shouldest thou be grievously disappointed?
(16.) Do not be made right too much, and do not (repeated, ‘do not also’) make thyself wise (the hithpael occurs only Exodus i. 10, and has a sinister meaning. Pharaoh’s policy with the children of Israel was for the time dealing wisely, but also a ‘prolonging in wickedness’) to excess (‘or over and above what is reasonable,’ expecting a ‘profit,’ יותר, from it, in that sense in which this word is used in this book). Wherefore shouldest thou be desolated? (but the hithpolel occurs Psalms cxliii. 4, Isaiah lix. 16, lxii. 5, Daniel viii. 27, and in all cases with the idea of ‘consternation’ at an unexpected and afflictive occurrence. Thus the meaning must be, ‘that this righteousness overmuch, and wisdom beyond what is reasonable, will disappoint.’ We must not then, in the days of our vanity, expect too much from right actions; they may to all appearance prove as disastrous as the most impious could be. In the same way impiety, that is, high-handed and presumptuous rebellion against right, may succeed so well that it may cause a prolongation of itself; the very word is sarcastic, as pointing to an end of wrong at last. The inference naturally seems to be——If this be so, what is the use of doing right at all? but a deeply sarcastic refutation is given to this thought in the succeeding clause).
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die [¹]before thy time?
[¹] Hebrew not in thy time.
but then, do not be wicked to excess either, and by no means become a clever fool: why shouldest thou die when it is not thy time?