Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

Expanded Bible

¹⁵ In my useless [1:2] ·life [^Ldays] I have seen both of these:
I have seen ·good [righteous] people die ·in spite of their goodness [^Lin their righteousness]
    and ·evil [wicked] people live a long time in spite of their evil.
¹⁶ Don’t be ·too [overly] ·right [righteous; good],
    and don’t ·be too [or pretend to be] wise.
    Why ·destroy [ruin] yourself?
¹⁷ Don’t be ·too [overly] wicked,
    and don’t be foolish.
    Why die ·before [^Lwhen it is not] your time?
¹⁸ It is good to grab the one and not ·let go of [^Lrelax your hand from] the other;
    those who ·respect [or are afraid of; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13] God will hold them both.