Ecclesiastes 7:15-28

¹⁵In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him.

¹⁶I 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.

¹⁷Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

¹⁸Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

¹⁹It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

²⁰Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

²¹For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

²²Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.

²³For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.

²⁴All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

²⁵That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

²⁶I 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.

²⁷And 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.

²⁸Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, seeking by one at a time to find out the account,