Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? New Living Translation Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? English Standard Version Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? Berean Standard Bible Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent? King James Bible Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? New King James Version Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? New American Standard Bible Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? NASB 1995 Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? NASB 1977 Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? Legacy Standard Bible See the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? Amplified Bible Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what He has bent? Christian Standard Bible Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? Holman Christian Standard Bible Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what He has made crooked? American Standard Version Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Contemporary English Version Think of what God has done! If God makes something crooked, can you make it straight? English Revised Version Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? GOD'S WORD® Translation Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent? Good News Translation Think about what God has done. How can anyone straighten out what God has made crooked? International Standard Version Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? NET Bible Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? New Heart English Bible Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? Webster's Bible Translation Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleConsider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent? World English Bible Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSee the work of God, "" For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked? Young's Literal Translation See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked? Smith's Literal Translation See the work of God: for who shall be able to make straight what he made it crooked? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleConsider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what God has made crooked? New Revised Standard Version Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleConsider the work of God; for who can straighten him who is crooked? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated See the work of God, for who is able to restore him that is disturbed? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked? Brenton Septuagint Translation Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Value of Wisdom…12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 13Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent? 14In 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.… Cross References Isaiah 45:9 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’? Romans 9:20-21 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? Job 9:12 If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’ Job 12:14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released. Isaiah 14:27 The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back? Lamentations 3:37-38 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? Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster. Isaiah 46:10 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.’ Daniel 4:35 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?’” James 4:13-15 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.” Romans 11:33-36 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?” ... Isaiah 55:8-9 “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. Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted. Psalm 33:10-11 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. Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. Treasury of Scripture Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? consider Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; Psalm 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. who Ecclesiastes 1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? Job 11:10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? Jump to Previous Able Bent Consider Crooked Straight Straighten Thought WorkJump to Next Able Bent Consider Crooked Straight Straighten Thought WorkEcclesiastes 7 1. remedies against vanity are, a good name2. mortification 7. patience 11. wisdom 23. The difficulty of wisdom Consider the work of God: 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 Psalm 19:1, which speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God, and Romans 1:20, which notes that God's invisible qualities are evident in creation. Who can straighten: what He has bent? Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- 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. 2. Israel - 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. 3. God - The central figure in this verse, whose sovereignty and control over creation are emphasized. The verse invites reflection on God's ultimate authority. Teaching Points Recognize God's SovereigntyAcknowledge that God is in control of all things. Our understanding is limited, and we must trust in His wisdom and plan. Embrace Humility 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. Trust in God's Plan 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. Seek Wisdom 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. Live with Contentment 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. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 7Who is Qoheleth in the Book of Ecclesiastes? What is Wisdom Literature in the Bible? 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? What is the Bible's perspective on a midlife crisis?Verse 13. - Consider the work of God. 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. For who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 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, Τίς δυνήσεται κοσμῆσαι ο{ν α}ν ὁ Θεὸς διαστρέψῃ αὐτόν; "Who will be able to straighten him whom God has distorted?" and the Vulgate, Nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit, "No one can amend him whom he hath despised." The thought goes back to what was said in Ecclesiastes 1:15, "That which is crooked cannot be made straight;" and in Ecclesiastes 6:10, 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 Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Considerרְאֵ֖ה (rə·’êh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the work מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה (ma·‘ă·śêh) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property of God: הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Who מִ֤י (mî) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix can יוּכַל֙ (yū·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3201: To be able, have power straighten לְתַקֵּ֔ן (lə·ṯaq·qên) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 8626: To equalize, straighten, to compose what אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that He has bent? עִוְּתֽוֹ׃ (‘iw·wə·ṯōw) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 5791: To be bent or crooked Links Ecclesiastes 7:13 NIVEcclesiastes 7:13 NLT Ecclesiastes 7:13 ESV Ecclesiastes 7:13 NASB Ecclesiastes 7:13 KJV Ecclesiastes 7:13 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 7:13 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 7:13 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 7:13 French Bible Ecclesiastes 7:13 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God for who (Ecclesiast. 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