New American Standard Bible 1995

Ecclesiastes 7:15-24

15I have seen everything during my 1 2lifetime of futility; there is 3a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is 4a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16Do not be excessively 5righteous and do not 6be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you 7die before your time? 18It is good that you grasp one thing and also not 8let go of the other; for the one who 9fears God comes forth with 10both of them.

19 11Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20Indeed, 12there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. 21Also, do not 13take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant 14cursing you. 22For 15you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” 16but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and 17exceedingly 18mysterious. 19Who can discover it?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Notes

1. Ecclesiastes 7:15 Lit days ↩
2. Ecclesiastes 7:15 Eccl 6:12; 9:9 ↩
3. Ecclesiastes 7:15 Eccl 8:14 ↩
4. Ecclesiastes 7:15 Eccl 8:12, 13 ↩
5. Ecclesiastes 7:16 Prov 25:16; Phil 3:6 ↩
6. Ecclesiastes 7:16 Rom 12:3 ↩
7. Ecclesiastes 7:17 Job 22:16; Ps 55:23; Prov 10:27 ↩
8. Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit rest your hand ↩
9. Ecclesiastes 7:18 Eccl 3:14; 5:7; 8:12, 13; 12:13 ↩
10. Ecclesiastes 7:18 Lit all ↩
11. Ecclesiastes 7:19 Eccl 7:12; 9:13-18 ↩
12. Ecclesiastes 7:20 1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Ps 143:2; Prov 20:9; Rom 3:23 ↩
13. Ecclesiastes 7:21 Lit give your heart to ↩
14. Ecclesiastes 7:21 Prov 30:10 ↩
15. Ecclesiastes 7:22 Lit your heart knows also ↩
16. Ecclesiastes 7:23 Eccl 3:11; 8:17 ↩
17. Ecclesiastes 7:24 Rom 11:33 ↩
18. Ecclesiastes 7:24 Lit deep ↩
19. Ecclesiastes 7:24 Job 11:7; 37:23; Eccl 8:17 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7