15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity: there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
16 Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do 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.
The prosperity of the wicked is a problem that continues to perplex us, but the answer lies in knowing the final outcome (Psalm 73:2-17). — Grace, page 1176.
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Another perplexing problem for the man who would earnestly serve God is that of the overly righteous. These are the persons Malachi complains about in Malachi 2:17 and 3:12-13, a people beyond repentance because they were so impressed with their works-righteousness. The wisdom Preacher counsels the avoidance of such a superficial view of righteousness, for it will most certainly lead its adherents to destruction. Some simpleton may gather from the Preachers’ admonition against over-righteousness that the best course to pursue is one of open wickedness. He who makes such an assumption deserves the title Kasak (stupid fool). Like the over-righteous man, he too is the cause of his own destruction. In his case he is apt to end his life prematurely because of his wicked practices. The path to profit may only be kept by those men of wisdom who eschew overly righteous and overly wicked behavior and practice consistently the fear of God. — KJV Commentary, page 747.
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