15 In my ^avain¹ life I have seen everything. There is ^ba righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who ^cprolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not ^dmake yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. ^eWhy should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of ^fthis, and from ^gthat ^hwithhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.