15 In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil.
16 Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
19 Wisdom makes the wise man strongerthan ten rulers of a city.
20 There is certainly no righteous man on the earthwho does good and never sins.
21 Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you,