Ecclesiastes 7:18

“[It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this, etc.] 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”f174, 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…”

“this . . . this--the two opposite excesses (Ecc 7:16-17), fanatical, self-wise righteousness, and presumptuous, foolhardy wickedness. he that feareth God shall come forth of them all--shall escape all such extremes (Pro 3:7).”

“Take hold of - Embrace and practise this counsel. Shall come - Shall be delivered from all extremes, and from all the evil consequences of them. Ecclesiastes 7:19”

“good: Ecc 11:6; Pro 4:25-27, Pro 8:20; Luk 11:42 for: Ecc 8:12, Ecc 12:13; Psa 25:12-14, Psa 145:19, Psa 145:20; Jer 32:40; Mal 4:2; Luk 1:50 Ecclesiastes 7:19”

“"It is good that thou holdest fast to the one," - viz. righteousness and wisdom, - and withdrawest not thy hand from the other, - viz. a wickedness which renounces over-righteousness and over-wisdom, or an unrestrained life; - for he who fears God accomplishes all, i.e., both, the one as well as the other. Luther, against the Vulg.: "for he who fears God escapes all." But what "all"? Tyler, Bullock, and others reply: "All the perplexities of life;" but no such thing is found in the text here, however many perplexities may be in the book. Better, Zckler: the evil results of the extreme of false righteousness as of bold wickedness. But that he does not destroy himself and does not die before…”