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[verse 15] The crooked thing can none make straight, or nūber things amis.
[verse 16] I thought and said, in power or wit, none like me was or is.
15.
That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which fai∣le•••• can not be numbred.
For when I sought to practise what I knew,
My mind distracted diuersly was led,
In looking to preuent things to insew:
Much care in vaine I tooke, no fruit it bred,
To know the worlds amis, serues to small sted;
When no man can make straight the crooked tree,
Or mend the chance that is ordaind to bee.
To number forth mans miseries and woe
Is hard to doe, and litle would auaile:
To stay the Oceans course, he should but goe,
That would support, where nature meanes to faile:
It makes vs but our weaknesse more bewaile,
If any way our wisedome stood in sted,
It would suppresse the vices in vs bred.
16.
I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold I am become great, and ex∣cell in wisedom all them that haue bene be∣fore me in le∣rusalem: and mine hart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge
And though (alas) I might of all men best,
For wisedome be reputed mongst the great,
Whose knowledge farre surpassed all the rest,
Before me euer were in Israels seate,
Or any others whom Records repeat:
Yea then was Chalcoll, Darda, or Ethan,
Heman, Maholl, or any liuing man.
Yet I for all my knowledge must confesse,
That childish blindnesse raigneth ouer all,
The more I knew, I thought I knew the lesse,
My knowledge, ignorance I seem'd to call,
When to the skanning of it I did fall:
As farre to weake true wisedome to behold,
As man vnfit, Gods secrets to vnfold.