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The NET Bible®
Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
Hebrew Names Version
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
King James Version
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
English Standard Version
It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
New American Standard Bible
It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.
It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.
New Century Version
It is good to grab the one and not let go of the other; those who honor God will hold them both.
It is good to grab the one and not let go of the other; those who honor God will hold them both.
Amplified Bible
It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them.
It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them.
World English Bible
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.
It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is good that you seize one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.
It is good that you seize one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.
Berean Standard Bible
It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.
It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.
Contemporary English Version
Keep to the middle of the road. You can do this if you truly respect God.
Keep to the middle of the road. You can do this if you truly respect God.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't grasp just one of these rules; take hold of the other as well; for he who is in fear of God will live by both of them.
Don't grasp just one of these rules; take hold of the other as well; for he who is in fear of God will live by both of them.
Darby Translation
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
Easy-to-Read Version
Try to be a little of this and a little of that. Even God's followers will do some good things and some bad things.
Try to be a little of this and a little of that. Even God's followers will do some good things and some bad things.
George Lamsa Translation
It is good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not your hand; for he who reverences God shall follow all these things.
It is good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not your hand; for he who reverences God shall follow all these things.
Good News Translation
Avoid both extremes. If you have reverence for God, you will be successful anyway.
Avoid both extremes. If you have reverence for God, you will be successful anyway.
Lexham English Bible
It is good to take hold of the one and also must not let go of the other; for whoever fears God will hold both of them secure.
It is good to take hold of the one and also must not let go of the other; for whoever fears God will hold both of them secure.
Literal Translation
It is good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this do not let your hand rest; for he who fears God shall come forth with all of them.
It is good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this do not let your hand rest; for he who fears God shall come forth with all of them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is good for the to take holde of this, & not to let yt go out of thy hande. For he yt feareth God shal escape them all.
It is good for the to take holde of this, & not to let yt go out of thy hande. For he yt feareth God shal escape them all.
American Standard Version
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
Bible in Basic English
It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.
It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.
King James Version (1611)
It is good that thou shouldest take holde of this, yea also from this withdraw not thine hand: for hee that feareth God, shall come foorth of them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take holde of this, yea also from this withdraw not thine hand: for hee that feareth God, shall come foorth of them all.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is good for thee to take holde of this, and not to let that go out of thy hande: For he that feareth God, commeth foorth with them all.
It is good for thee to take holde of this, and not to let that go out of thy hande: For he that feareth God, commeth foorth with them all.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.
Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.
English Revised Version
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is good, that thou susteyne a iust man; but also withdrawe thou not thin hond from hym; for he that dredith God, is not necligent of ony thing.
It is good, that thou susteyne a iust man; but also withdrawe thou not thin hond from hym; for he that dredith God, is not necligent of ony thing.
Update Bible Version
It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth from them all.
It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth from them all.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.
[It is] good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.
New King James Version
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.
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.
New Living Translation
Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
New Life Bible
It is good that you take hold of one thing, and do not let go of the other. For the one who fears God will have both of them.
It is good that you take hold of one thing, and do not let go of the other. For the one who fears God will have both of them.
New Revised Standard
It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.
It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, - for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.
It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, - for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-19) It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
(7-19) It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
Revised Standard Version
It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
Young's Literal Translation
[It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.
[It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.
THE MESSAGE
It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.
It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.
It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.
Contextual Overview
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day. 12 For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 13 Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? 14 In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds. 15 During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds. 16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed. 17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time. 18 It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings. 19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city. 20 For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
good: Ecclesiastes 11:6, Proverbs 4:25-27, Proverbs 8:20, Luke 11:42
for: Ecclesiastes 8:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Psalms 25:12-14, Psalms 145:19, Psalms 145:20, Jeremiah 32:40, Malachi 4:2, Luke 1:50
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth Nehemiah 2:20 - The God Proverbs 12:13 - but Proverbs 14:26 - fear Proverbs 29:25 - whoso Proverbs 31:30 - she Ecclesiastes 2:3 - and to lay Ecclesiastes 5:7 - but Ecclesiastes 9:2 - as is Isaiah 56:2 - layeth Acts 10:2 - one
Cross-References
Exodus 14:28
The water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh that was coming after the Israelites into the sea—not so much as one of them survived!
The water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh that was coming after the Israelites into the sea—not so much as one of them survived!
Job 22:16
men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?
men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?
Psalms 69:15
Don't let the current overpower me! Don't let the deep swallow me up! Don't let the Pit devour me!
Don't let the current overpower me! Don't let the deep swallow me up! Don't let the Pit devour me!
Psalms 104:26
The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it.
The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
[It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this,.... This advice, as the Arabic version, in the several branches of it; neither to be over much righteous or wicked, and over much wise or foolish; to avoid the one and the other, to keep clear of extremes, and pursue the path that is safest; such advice as this it is right to lay hold on, embrace, and hold fast;
yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand; from what follows concerning the fear of God; or "this [and] this" may be rendered "this [and] that" c, and the sense be, lay hold on this, that is, the last part of the advice, not to be over much wicked or foolish, which is often the cause of an immature death; and do not slacken or be remiss in regarding that other and first part of it, not to be over much righteous or wise;
for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all; or escape them all; the phrase is become Rabbinical, that, is, he shall be free or exempt from them all; from over much righteousness and over much wisdom, and over much wickedness or over much folly; the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, is the best preservative from, and antidote against, these things; for a man that fears God is humble, and renounces his own righteousness, and distrusts his own wisdom; he fears to commit sin, and shuns folly.
c So Broughton, Rambachius, and others.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. It is good that thou shouldest take hold or this — Do not let such an observation slip: take hold of this; do not forget that. Get what you can in an honest way; but do not forget to get true religion; for he that fears God will be saved from all evil.
