15 In my ^uvain¹ life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and ^vthere is a wicked man who ^wprolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die ^xbefore your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who ^yfears God shall come out from both of them.