So first you need to figure out which of these views about the gods is actually true. If there are no gods, how can our goal be to follow them? If they exist but don't care about anything, how can it be right to follow them? And even if they do exist and pay attention to things, but they don't communicate anything to humans — or to me personally — how can it still be right to follow them? The wise and good person thinks through all of this. Then they submit their mind to whoever runs the universe, just like good citizens follow the laws of their city.
Before all other things then it is necessary to inquire about each of these opinions, whether it is affirmed truly or not truly. For if there are no gods, how is it our proper end to follow them? And if they exist, but take no care of anything, in this case also how will it be right to follow them? But if indeed they do exist and look after things, still if there is nothing communicated from them to men, nor in fact to myself, how even so is it right (to follow them)? The wise and good man then, after considering all these things, submits his own mind to him who administers the whole, as good citizens do to the law of the state.