Font Size
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New Catholic Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
New Catholic Bible
16 Do not be excessively righteous
or show yourself to be unduly wise.[a]
Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be excessively wicked
or act like a fool.
Why should you die before your time?[b]
18 It would be best for you to hold on to one
and not let go of the other.[c]
For the one who fears God will eventually succeed.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:16 Excessively righteous . . . unduly wise: these attitudes are to be avoided, for they lead to self-righteousness and pride.
- Ecclesiastes 7:17 In Old Testament times, the wicked were regarded as certain to undergo an untimely end at the hand of God (see 1 Sam 2:31-34; Ps 55:24; Prov 10:27; Jer 17:11).
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Hold on to one and not let go of the other: i.e., the words in verses 16-17.