Ecclesiastes 7:18
New International Version
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

New Living Translation
Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

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.

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.

King James Bible
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.

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.

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.

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
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.

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.

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.

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.

Holman 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.

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.

Contemporary English Version
Keep to the middle of the road. You can do this if you truly respect God.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It's good to hold on to the one and not let go of the other, because the one who fears God will be able to avoid both extremes.

Good News Translation
Avoid both extremes. If you have reverence for God, you will be successful anyway.

International Standard Version
It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go, because whoever fears God will escape all of these extremes.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will 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.

World English Bible
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[It is] good that you lay hold on this, and also, do not withdraw your hand from that, for whoever is fearing God goes out with 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good that thou shalt hold fast upon this; also from this thou shalt not lead away thy hand: for he fearing God shall come forth with all of them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.

New American Bible
It is good to hold to this rule, and not to let that one go; but the one who fears God will succeed with both.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It is good that you take hold of this, neither let your hand go from this, because whoever is in awe of God will cling to all these things
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Limits of Human Wisdom
17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings. 19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 16:6
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Isaiah 8:13
The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Psalm 34:9
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.

1 Samuel 12:24
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:5
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

1 Peter 2:17
Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.


Treasury of Scripture

It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.

good

Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Proverbs 4:25-27
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee…

Proverbs 8:20
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

for

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Psalm 25:12-14
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose…

Jump to Previous
Avoid Discharge Escape Fear Feareth Fearing Fears Forth Free Good Grasp Hand Hold Lay Shouldest Shouldst Withdraw Withdrawest
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Avoid Discharge Escape Fear Feareth Fearing Fears Forth Free Good Grasp Hand Hold Lay Shouldest Shouldst Withdraw Withdrawest
Ecclesiastes 7
1. remedies against vanity are, a good name
2. mortification
7. patience
11. wisdom
23. The difficulty of wisdom














It is good
The Hebrew word for "good" here is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys a sense of moral goodness, pleasantness, and appropriateness. In the context of Ecclesiastes, this term often reflects the pursuit of wisdom and righteousness. The Preacher, traditionally understood as Solomon, emphasizes the value of discerning and choosing what is beneficial for one's spiritual and moral life. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that true goodness is rooted in alignment with God's will.

to grasp the one
The phrase "to grasp" comes from the Hebrew "אֲחֹז" (achoz), meaning to take hold of or seize. This suggests an active, intentional effort to hold onto something valuable. In the context of Ecclesiastes, it implies the importance of embracing wisdom and righteousness. The "one" likely refers to a particular aspect of wisdom or a balanced approach to life, emphasizing the need for discernment in navigating life's complexities.

and not let the other slip from your hand
The imagery of something slipping from one's hand suggests negligence or carelessness. The Hebrew root "נָחָה" (nachah) can imply letting go or losing grip. This part of the verse warns against the danger of neglecting other important aspects of wisdom or moral living. The balance between holding onto one thing while not losing another is a recurring theme in Ecclesiastes, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to life.

For he who fears God
The phrase "fears God" is central to the wisdom literature of the Bible. The Hebrew word "יָרֵא" (yare) conveys reverence, awe, and respect for God. This fear is not about terror but about a profound respect and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and holiness. In Ecclesiastes, fearing God is presented as the foundation of wisdom and the guiding principle for a righteous life. It is the fear of God that enables one to navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and balance.

will follow both warnings
The term "warnings" in Hebrew is "יָצָא" (yatsa), which can also mean advice or instruction. The verse suggests that those who fear God will heed the guidance and instructions provided by wisdom. This implies a duality in the teachings of Ecclesiastes, where one must balance different aspects of wisdom and life. The wise person, therefore, is one who can integrate and apply these teachings in a way that honors God and leads to a fulfilling life.

(18) In the uncertainty or the issues of life, it is good for a man to make trial of opposite rules of conduct. provided he always restrain himself by the fear of God. (Comp. Ecclesiastes 11:6.)

Verse 18. - It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand. The pronouns refer to the two warnings in vers. 16 and 17 against over-righteousness and over-wicked-ness. Koheleth does not advise a man to make trial of opposite lines of conduct, to taste the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that from a wide experience lie may, like a man of the world, pursue a safe course; this would be poor morality, and unmeet for the stage at which his argument has arrived. Rather he advises him to lay to heart fire cautions above given, and learn from them to avoid all extremes. As Horace says ('Epist.,' 1:18. 9) -

"Virtus est medium vitiorum et utrinque reductum."

"Folly, as usual, in extremes is seen,
While virtue nicely hits the happy mean."


(Howes.) The Vulgate has interpolated a word, and taken the pronoun as masculine, to the sacrifice of the sense and connection: Bonum est te sustentare justum, sed el ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam, "It is good that thou shouldst support the just man, nay, from him withdraw not thy hand." For he that feareth God shall come forth of them all; shall escape both extremes together with their evil re-suits. The fear of God will keep a man from all excesses. The intransitive verb yatsa, "to go forth," is here used with an accusative (comp. Genesis 44:4, which, however, is not quite analogous), as in Latin ingrediurbem (Livy, 1:29). Vulgate, Qui timet Deum nihil negligit. So Hitzig and Ginsburg, "Goes, makes his way with both," knows how to avail himself of piety and wickedness, which, as we have seen, is not the meaning. St. Gregory, indeed, who uses the Latin Version, notes that to fear God is never to pass over any good thing that ought to be aerie ('Moral.,' 1:3); but he is not professing to comment on the whole passage. Wright, after Delitzsch, takes the term "come out of" as equivalent to "fulfill," so that the meaning would be, "He who fears God performs all the duties mentioned above, and avoids extremes," as Matthew 23:23, "These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone." But this is confessedly a Talmudic use of the verb; and the Authorized Version may be safely adopted. The Septuagint gives, "For to them that fear God all things shall come forth well."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is good
ט֚וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

to grasp
תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז (te·’ĕ·ḥōz)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

the one
בָּזֶ֔ה (bā·zeh)
Preposition-b | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

and
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let the other slip
תַּנַּ֣ח (tan·naḥ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place,

from
מִזֶּ֖ה (miz·zeh)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

your hand.
יָדֶ֑ךָ (yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he who fears
יְרֵ֥א (yə·rê)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3373: Fearing, reverent

God
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

will follow
יֵצֵ֥א (yê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

both [warnings].
כֻּלָּֽם׃ (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is good that you should take (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
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