13. Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?
14. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him.
15. I have seen everything in the days of my vanity (my emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility): there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in [spite of] his evildoing.
16. Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise–why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?
17. [Although all have sinned] be not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish–why should you die before your time?
18. It is good that you should take hold of this and from that withdraw not your hand; for he who [reverently] fears and worships God will come forth from them all.
19. [True] wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers or valiant generals who are in the city. [Ps. 127:1; II Tim. 3:15.]
20. Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins. [Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23.]
21. Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you–
22. For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.