13 Consider the work of God;
For ^awho can make straight what He has made crooked? ‡

14 ^aIn the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one¹ as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.  ‡

15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:
^aThere is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,
And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. ‡

16 ^aDo not be overly righteous,
^bNor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself? ‡

17 Do not be overly wicked,
Nor be foolish:
^aWhy should you die before your time? ‡

18 It is good that you grasp this,
And also not remove your hand from the other;
For he who ^afears God will escape them all. ‡