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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/21_Ecc_07_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 7:13 - The Value of Wisdom" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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For who can make straight what He has made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />See the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what He has made crooked? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Think of what God has done! If God makes something crooked, can you make it straight? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Think about what God has done. How can anyone straighten out what God has made crooked? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />See the work of God, "" For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />See the work of God: for who shall be able to make straight what he made it crooked?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 7:14>Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what God has made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Consider the work of God; for who can straighten him who is crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />See the work of God, for who is able to restore him that is disturbed?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/7.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=1257" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/7.htm">The Value of Wisdom</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rə·’êh (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">Consider</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śêh (N-msc) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">the work</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God:</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yū·ḵal (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">can</a> <a href="/hebrew/8626.htm" title="8626: lə·ṯaq·qên (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To become straight. A primitive root; to equalize, i.e. Straighten; figuratively, to compose.">straighten</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">what</a> <a href="/hebrew/5791.htm" title="5791: ‘iw·wə·ṯōw (V-Piel-Perf-3ms:: 3ms) -- To be bent or crooked. A primitive root; to wrest.">He has bent?</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Isaiah 45:9</a></span><br />Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20-21</a></span><br />But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/9-12.htm">Job 9:12</a></span><br />If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/12-14.htm">Job 12:14</a></span><br />What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-27.htm">Isaiah 14:27</a></span><br />The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-37.htm">Lamentations 3:37-38</a></span><br />Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it? / Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/16-4.htm">Proverbs 16:4</a></span><br />The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-10.htm">Isaiah 46:10</a></span><br />I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/4-35.htm">Daniel 4:35</a></span><br />All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-13.htm">James 4:13-15</a></span><br />Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-33.htm">Romans 11:33-36</a></span><br />O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a></span><br />“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/42-2.htm">Job 42:2</a></span><br />“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-10.htm">Psalm 33:10-11</a></span><br />The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/19-21.htm">Proverbs 19:21</a></span><br />Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?</p><p class="hdg">consider</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/37-14.htm">Job 37:14</a></b></br> Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/8-3.htm">Psalm 8:3</a></b></br> When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/107-43.htm">Psalm 107:43</a></b></br> Whoso <i>is</i> wise, and will observe these <i>things</i>, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">who</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:15</a></b></br> <i>That which is</i> crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/9-12.htm">Job 9:12</a></b></br> Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/11-10.htm">Job 11:10</a></b></br> If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-12.htm">Able</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm">Bent</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-20.htm">Consider</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm">Crooked</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm">Straight</a> <a href="/titus/1-5.htm">Straighten</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-20.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-7.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/8-7.htm">Able</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-3.htm">Bent</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-14.htm">Consider</a> <a href="/isaiah/27-1.htm">Crooked</a> <a href="/songs/7-9.htm">Straight</a> <a href="/luke/13-11.htm">Straighten</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-9.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-1.htm">remedies against vanity are, a good name</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-2.htm">mortification</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-7.htm">patience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-11.htm">wisdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-23.htm">The difficulty of wisdom</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Consider the work of God:</b><br>This phrase invites reflection on the actions and creations of God. In the biblical context, it emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God, reminding believers to acknowledge His ultimate authority over all things. The word "consider" suggests a deep, thoughtful examination, encouraging believers to recognize God's hand in the world around them. This aligns with passages like <a href="/psalms/19.htm">Psalm 19:1</a>, which speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God, and <a href="/romans/1-20.htm">Romans 1:20</a>, which notes that God's invisible qualities are evident in creation.<p><b>Who can straighten:</b><br>This rhetorical question underscores human limitations in altering God's designs. It reflects the biblical theme of human humility before divine will, as seen in <a href="/job/42-2.htm">Job 42:2</a>, where Job acknowledges that no purpose of God can be thwarted. The imagery of "straightening" suggests attempting to change or correct something perceived as crooked or bent, which in this context, symbolizes the futility of resisting God's plans.<p><b>what He has bent?</b><br>The phrase "what He has bent" implies that God has intentionally shaped or altered something for His purposes. This can be understood as God's providence in allowing certain circumstances or challenges. It echoes <a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Isaiah 45:9</a>, where the clay questions the potter's work, highlighting the absurdity of questioning God's intentions. Theologically, it points to the belief that God's ways are higher than human ways (<a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a>) and that His purposes, even when mysterious or difficult, are ultimately for good, as seen in <a href="/romans/8-28.htm">Romans 8:28</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>- Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>- The nation to which Solomon belonged and over which he reigned as king. The cultural and religious context of Israel is crucial for understanding the themes of Ecclesiastes.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>- The central figure in this verse, whose sovereignty and control over creation are emphasized. The verse invites reflection on God's ultimate authority.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/recognize_god's_sovereignty.htm">Recognize God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Acknowledge that God is in control of all things. Our understanding is limited, and we must trust in His wisdom and plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/embrace_humility.htm">Embrace Humility</a></b><br>Accept that there are aspects of life beyond our control. This should lead us to a posture of humility before God, recognizing our dependence on Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_plan.htm">Trust in God's Plan</a></b><br>Even when circumstances seem difficult or confusing, trust that God has a purpose. What He has "bent" is part of His divine plan, and we are called to have faith in His goodness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seek_wisdom.htm">Seek Wisdom</a></b><br>In light of God's sovereignty, seek wisdom to discern His will and align our lives with His purposes. This involves prayer, study of Scripture, and seeking godly counsel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/live_with_contentment.htm">Live with Contentment</a></b><br>Understanding that we cannot change what God has ordained should lead us to contentment. We are called to find peace in His provision and timing.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_qoheleth_in_ecclesiastes.htm">Who is Qoheleth in the Book of Ecclesiastes?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_wisdom_literature_in_the_bible.htm">What is Wisdom Literature in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_ecclesiastes_7_13_challenge_free_will.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 questions who can straighten what God has made crooked--does this challenge free will or the efficacy of human efforts through science and medicine?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_midlife_crisis.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on a midlife crisis?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Consider the work of God</span>. Here is another reason against murmuring and hasty judgment. True wisdom is shown by submission to the inevitable. In all that happens one ought to recognize God's work and God's ordering, and man's impotence. <span class="cmt_word">For who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?</span> The things which God hath made crooked are the anomalies, the crosses, the difficulties, which meet us in life. Some would include bodily deformities, which seems to be a piece of unnecessary literalism. Thus the Septuagint, <span class="greek">Τίς δυνήσεται κοσμῆσαι ο{ν α}ν ὁ Θεὸς</span> <span class="greek">διαστρέψῃ αὐτόν</span>; "Who will be able to straighten him whom God has distorted?" and the Vulgate, <span class="accented">Nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit</span>, "No one can amend him whom he hath despised." The thought goes back to what was said in <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:15</a>, "That which is crooked cannot be made straight;" and in <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:10</a>, man "cannot contend with him that is mightier than he." "As for the wondrous works of the Lord," says Ben-Sirs," there may be nothing taken from them, neither may anything be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out" (Ecclus. 18:6). We cannot arrange events according to our wishes or expectations; therefore not only is placid acquiescence a necessary duty, but the wise man will endeavor to accommodate himself to existing circumstances <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Consider</span><br /><span class="heb">רְאֵ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(rə·’êh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the work</span><br /><span class="heb">מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(ma·‘ă·śêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God:</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Who</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can</span><br /><span class="heb">יוּכַל֙</span> <span class="translit">(yū·ḵal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">straighten</span><br /><span class="heb">לְתַקֵּ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṯaq·qên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8626.htm">Strong's 8626: </a> </span><span class="str2">To equalize, straighten, to compose</span><br /><br /><span class="word">what</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He has bent?</span><br /><span class="heb">עִוְּתֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘iw·wə·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5791.htm">Strong's 5791: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be bent or crooked</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God for who (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 7:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 7:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 7:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 7:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>