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Ecclesiastes 7:15-23
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:15-23
English Standard Version
15 In my (A)vain[a] life I have seen everything. There is (B)a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who (C)prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not (D)make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. (E)Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of (F)this, and from (G)that (H)withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 (I)Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely (J)there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear (K)your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that (L)many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom. (M)I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:15 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 7:15-23
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:15-23
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]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(G)
no one who does what is right and never sins.(H)
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you(I) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”(J)—
but this was beyond me.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.