Ecclesiastes 7:15-27

¹⁵I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

¹⁶Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

¹⁷Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

¹⁸It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

¹⁹Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

²⁰For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin.

²¹Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.

²²For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.

²³All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

²⁴That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

²⁵I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account of things, and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

²⁶And I find her to be, and I will pronounce to be more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, who has a band in her hands: he that is good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

²⁷Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, seeking by one at a time to find out the account,