Avoiding Extremes

¹⁵ In my futile life^[a] I have seen everything:^(A) someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness,^(B) and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil.^{(C) 16} Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise.^(D) Why should you destroy yourself? ¹⁷ Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time?^(E)