Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
Legacy Standard Bible
15 I have seen everything during my (A)days of vanity; there is (B)a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is (C)a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Do not be excessively (D)righteous, and do not (E)be overly wise. Why should you make yourself desolate? 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a simpleminded fool. Why should you (F)die before your time? 18 It is good that you seize one thing and also not [a]let go of the other; for the one who (G)fears God comes forth with [b]both of them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit rest your hand
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit all
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
Lexham English Bible
The Law of Retribution Does Not Always Work—but It Does Sometimes
15 I have seen all these things in my vain life:
Sometimes a righteous man perishes in spite of his righteousness,
and sometimes a wicked man lives a long life in spite of his evil.
16 Do not be excessively[a] righteous,
and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself.
17 Do not act excessively wicked,
and do not be a fool, lest you die before your time.
18 It is good to take hold of the one and also must not let go of the other;
for whoever fears God will hold both of them secure.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:16 Or “abundantly”
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