Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Excessive wickedness and folly are to be avoided because they can bring death before its proper time. The warning against being overmuch wicked gives no permission to sin in moderation, for any indulgence in sin is wrong. To read its language about excess as allowing a little wickedness would be fatal to Christianity and obnoxious to reason.
By the same reasoning, warnings against too much wine give no permission to use intoxicating drink in moderation, for any degree of indulgence in intoxicating drink is wrong just as any degree of indulgence in sin is wrong. Excessive effort and overdoing impair and ruin strength, along with idleness, gluttony, licentiousness, irregular and fitful living, and doing violence to one's nature. Since strength can be improved but also impaired and destroyed, young men who need full moral, mental, and spiritual strength to work, endure, and overcome must avoid such excess in order to gain and retain it.
The question why people should die before their time applies to early deaths in the present age, whose short average lifespan contrasts with the much longer average lifespan before the Flood, pointing to habits that affect health and length of life. Hasty eating and failing to chew food thoroughly illustrate the foolish and harmful conduct that leads to weakness, disease, premature death, and pain and misery in later life. In ancient times people took more time to eat and chew in recognition of the role of the teeth and salivary glands in keeping the body well and strong.
Excessive wickedness and folly are to be avoided because they can bring death before its proper time. The warning against being overmuch wicked gives no permission to sin in moderation, for any indulgence in sin is wrong. To read its language about excess as allowing a little wickedness would be fatal to Christianity and obnoxious to reason.
By the same reasoning, warnings against too much wine give no permission to use intoxicating drink in moderation, for any degree of indulgence in intoxicating drink is wrong just as any degree of indulgence in sin is wrong. Excessive effort and overdoing impair and ruin strength, along with idleness, gluttony, licentiousness, irregular and fitful living, and doing violence to one's nature. Since strength can be improved but also impaired and destroyed, young men who need full moral, mental, and spiritual strength to work, endure, and overcome must avoid such excess in order to gain and retain it.
The question why people should die before their time applies to early deaths in the present age, whose short average lifespan contrasts with the much longer average lifespan before the Flood, pointing to habits that affect health and length of life. Hasty eating and failing to chew food thoroughly illustrate the foolish and harmful conduct that leads to weakness, disease, premature death, and pain and misery in later life. In ancient times people took more time to eat and chew in recognition of the role of the teeth and salivary glands in keeping the body well and strong.