Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

Section 3. Warnings against excesses , and praise of the golden mean , which is practical wisdom and the art of living happily. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much . The exhortation has been variously interpreted to warn against too scrupulous observance of ritual and ceremonial religion, or the mistaken piety which neglects all mundane affairs, or the Pharisaical spirit which is bitter in condemning others who fall short of one's own standard. Cox will have it that the advice signifies that a prudent man will not be very righteous, since he will gain nothing by it, nor very wicked, as he will certainly shorten his life by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish. These two injunctions are parallel and correlative to those in Ecclesiastes 7:16 concerning over-righteousness and over-wisdom. But the present verse cannot be meant, as at first sight it seems to do, to sanction a certain amount of wickedness provided it does not exceed due measure. To surmount this difficulty some have undefined to modify the term "wicked" ( rasha ), taking it to mean "engaged in worldly matters," or "not subject to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand. The pronouns refer to the two warnings in Ecclesiastes 7:16 and Ecclesiastes 7:17 against over-righteousness and over-wickedness. Koheleth does not advise a man to make trial of opposite lines of conduct, to taste the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that from a wide experience lie may, like a man of the world, pursue a safe course; this would be poor morality , and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:15-17

The days of my vanity - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note).The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances (described in Ecclesiastes 7:15) of such crooked work so as to make it straight, that thou art more righteous or more wise than He is Who ordained... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:15

Ecclesiastes 7:15. All things have I seen All sort’s of events, both such as have been already mentioned, and such as I am about to declare. In the days of my vanity Since I have come into this vain life. A just man perisheth in his righteousness Notwithstanding his righteousness; whom his righteousness does not deliver in common calamities, or, for his righteousness, which exposes him to the envy, anger, or hatred of wicked men. And a wicked man prolongeth his life, &c. Not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Ecclesiastes 7:16. Be not righteous overmuch This verse and the next have a manifest reference to Ecclesiastes 7:15, being two inferences drawn from the two clauses of the observation there recorded. Solomon may here be considered as speaking in the person of an ungodly man, who takes occasion to dissuade men from righteousness, because of the danger which attends it. Therefore, saith he, take heed of strictness, zeal, and forwardness in religion. And in consistency with this the next verse... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:18-20

Ecclesiastes 7:18-20. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this Embrace and practise this counsel last given. Also from this withdraw not thy hand From the practice of the preceding advice: for he that feareth God Who orders his actions so as to please God, and keep his commandments, walking by the rule of his word; shall come forth of them all Shall be delivered from all extremes, and from all the evil consequences of them. This verse seems more exactly rendered by a late... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

Avoid extremes (7:15-29)One of the puzzles of life is that bad people often have long and prosperous lives, but good people suffer and sometimes die before they have had a chance to enjoy life. The writer suggests that people follow a middle course through life, where they do not ruin their lives through being either over-zealous for goodness and wisdom or over-tolerant towards sin and foolishness. Those who fear God will be successful in avoiding both extremes (15-18).Certainly, wisdom is... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 7:15

just = righteous. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:15-17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 7:18-20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 7:15

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