[15] In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. [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? [18] It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes. [19] Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. [20] Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. [21] Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you 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”—but this was beyond me. [24] Whatever exists is far off and most profound—who can discover it? [25] So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. [26] I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare. [27] “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things— [28] while I was still searching but not finding—I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all. [29] This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
