Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 7:15-17

"All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing. Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" — Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 (ASV)

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 work of God” (Ecclesiastes 7:13) when it bears upon him.

He says in effect, “Do not think that you could alter the two instances of such crooked work so as to make it straight, or that you are more righteous or wiser than He is who ordained these events. To set up your judgment in opposition to His would imply an excess of wickedness and folly, deserving the punishment of premature death.

But rather it is good for you to grasp these seeming anomalies; if you ponder them, they will tend to impress on you that fear of God which is a part of wisdom, and will guide you safely through all the perplexities of this life” .

The suggestion that these verses are intended to advocate a middle course between sin and virtue is at variance with the whole tenor of the book.

Ecclesiastes 7:16

Destroy thyself - The Septuagint and Vulgate render it: “be amazed.” Compare marvel not (Ecclesiastes 5:8).