15. I have seen it all in my days of futility: There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong one living long in his evil.
16. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself?
17. Do not be wrong overmuch, and do not be a fool – why die before your time?
18. It is good that you should take hold of this, and also not withhold your hand from the other. For he who fears Elohim comes forth with all of them.
19. Wisdom makes the wise strong, more than ten rulers that are in the city.
20. For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.
21. Also do not take to heart all the words they speak, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22. For you know in your heart that many times you have cursed others.
23. All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I am wise,” but it was far from me.
24. That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep – who does find it?
25. I have turned round, even my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom and a conclusion, to know the wrongness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.
26. And I found more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are shackles. He who pleases Elohim escapes from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
27. “See, this I have found,” says Qoheleth, “Counting one by one, to find a conclusion,
28. which my being still seeks but have not found: I have found one man among a thousand, but a woman among all these I have not found.