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Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
New American Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
New American Standard Bible
15 I have seen everything during my [a](A)lifetime of futility; there is (B)a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is (C)a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be excessively (D)righteous, and do not (E)be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be foolish. Why should you (F)die [b]before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp one thing while not [c]letting go of the other; for one who (G)fears God comes out with [d]both of them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:15 Lit days
- Ecclesiastes 7:17 Lit when not your time
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit resting your hand
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit all of them
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
Common English Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
Common English Bible
15 I have seen everything in my pointless lifetime: the righteous person may die in spite of their righteousness; then again, the wicked may live long in spite of their wickedness. 16 Don’t be too righteous or too wise, or you may be dumbfounded.[a] 17 Don’t be too wicked and don’t be a fool, or you may die before your time. 18 It’s good that you take hold of one of these without letting go of the other because the one who fears God will go forth with both.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:16 Or destroyed
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
New International Version
15 In this meaningless life(A) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(B)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?(C)
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God(D) will avoid all extremes.[a]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.