Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

New International Reader's Version

I’ve seen godly people dying
    even though they are godly.
And I’ve seen sinful people living a long time
    even though they are sinful.
¹⁶ Don’t claim to be better than you are.
    And don’t claim to be wiser than you are.
    Why destroy yourself?
¹⁷ Don’t be too sinful.
    And don’t be foolish.
    Why die before your time comes?
¹⁸ It’s good to hold on to both of those things.
    Don’t let go of either one.
Whoever has respect for God will avoid
    going too far in either direction.