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Ecclesiastes 7:17-23
New American Standard Bible

Chapter 7

17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.
19Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20Indeed, there is not a righteous person on earth who always does good and does not ever sin. 21Also, do not take seriously all the words which are spoken, so that you do not hear your servant cursing you, 22for you know that even you have cursed others many times as well.
23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, 'I will be wise,' but wisdom was far from me.
King James Version

Chapter 7

17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Christian Standard Bible

Chapter 7

17Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18It 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.
19Wisdom makes the wise person stronger than ten rulers of a city. 20There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
21Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, 22for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, "I will be wise," but it was beyond me.
New Living Translation

Chapter 7

17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? 18Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
20Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
21Don’t eavesdrop on others — you may hear your servant curse you. 22For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
23I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, 'I am determined to be wise.' But it didn’t work.
English Standard Version

Chapter 7

17Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
New International Version

Chapter 7

17Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
18It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. 21Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you— 22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"— but this was beyond me.
New King James Version

Chapter 7

17Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all. 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city. 20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. 21Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others. 23All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; But it was far from me.
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