Ecclesiastes 7:17-25

¹⁷On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?

¹⁸You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.

¹⁹Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.

²⁰There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.

²¹Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,

²²for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!

²³I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.

²⁴Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?

²⁵I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.