אַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Be not excessively wicked. Even if you have been somewhat wicked, do not continue to act wickedly.
Kohelet Rabbah
“Do not be overly wicked and do not be foolish; why should you die before your time?” (Ecclesiastes 7:17)
“Do not be overly wicked.” Rabbi Berekhya said: But a little bit is permitted? Rather, do not say: Because this is with rage, everything is with rage.117If God is already angry at him, it does not matter if he continues to sin.
“Do not be overly wicked.” Rabbi Berekhya said: But a little bit is permitted? Rather, do not say: Because this is with rage, everything is with rage.117If God is already angry at him, it does not matter if he continues to sin.
Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Why should you die before your time. As Shaul did, as it is stated, “and Shaul died for his transgressions that he committed [against Adonoy],”42I Divrei Hayomim 10:13. in the case of Nov, the city of kohanim,43See I Shmuel 22:16-19. and in the case of Amoleik.44See I Shmuel 15:8-15.