English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:13
13Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
Ecclesiastes 7:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
- New International Version (NIV)Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:13
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. 12For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? 14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. 15In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:13 word by word
רְאֵ֖ה אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לְתַקֵּ֔ן אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִוְּתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:13
- Job 37:14"Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
- Psalms 8:3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
- Psalms 107:43Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
- Isaiah 5:12They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.
- Ecclesiastes 1:15What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
- Job 9:12Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'
- Job 11:10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?
- Job 12:14If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
- Job 34:29When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—
- Isaiah 14:27For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?
- Isaiah 43:13Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"
- Isaiah 46:10declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
- Daniel 4:35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
- Romans 9:15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
- Ephesians 1:11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Consider the work of God - Such is the nature of his providence, that it puts money into the hands of few: but wisdom is within the reach of all. The first is not necessary to happiness; therefore, it is not offered to men; the latter is; and therefore God, in his goodness, offers it to the whole human race. The former can rarely be acquired, for God puts it out of the reach of most men, and you cannot make that straight which he has made crooked; the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13The work of God - The scheme of Divine Providence, the course of events which God orders and controls (compare Ecclesiastes 3:11). It comprises both events which are “straight,” i. e., in accordance with our expectation, and events which are “crooked,” i. e., which by their seeming inequality baffle our comprehension.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13God's powerful actions cannot be resisted; trying to oppose or escape his plans is pointless.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Consider as to God's work, that it is impossible to alter His dispensations; for who can, &c. straight ... crooked--Man cannot amend what God wills to be "wanting" and "adverse" (Ec 1:15; Job 12:14).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries