The Limits of Human Wisdom

15 In my futile life I have seen both of these:

• A righteous man perishing in his righteousness,
• [and] a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

16 Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both [warnings].[fn]

19 Wisdom makes the wise man

stronger than ten rulers in a city.

20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth

who does good and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I tested by wisdom, [saying], “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me. 24 What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

25 I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman who [is] a snare, whose heart [is] a net, and whose hands [are] chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared

27 “Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation. 28 While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one [upright] man, but among all these I have not found [one such] woman. 29 Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”