Ecclesiastes 7:16-25

16Do not be overly righteous nor overly wise— why confound yourself?

17Do not be overly wicked and do not be a fool— why die before your time?

18It is good to grasp the one and not withdraw your hand from the other. For the one who fears God will escape both extremes.

19Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

20Surely there is not a righteous person on earth who does what is good and doesn’t sin.

21Also, do not pay attention to every word people say, otherwise you might hear your servant mocking you—

22for your heart knows that many times you too have mocked others.

23All this I have tested with wisdom and I said, “I determined to be wise”—but it was far from me.

24Whatever it may be, it is far off and very profound—who can fathom it?

25So I turned my heart to understand, to search and seek out wisdom and an explanation of things and to know the stupidity of wickedness and madness of folly.