16. So don't be too good or too wise — why kill yourself?
17. But don't be too wicked or too foolish, either — why die before you have to?
18. Avoid both extremes. If you have reverence for God, you will be successful anyway.
19. Wisdom does more for a person than ten rulers can do for a city.
20. There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake.
21. Don't pay attention to everything people say — you may hear your servant insulting you,
22. and you know yourself that you have insulted other people many times.
23. I used my wisdom to test all of this. I was determined to be wise, but it was beyond me.