Submission
The Allure of Worldly Honor
The speaker acknowledges God's wisdom but is tempted to desire worldly power and praise, arguing that such advancement would also honor God.
If it weren't that you are my wisdom, Lord, and both my eyes are yours, my mind would be extremely stirred for missing my design.✦1 Wouldn't it be better to give me some position and power? Then your praises would grow along with me and share in my rank.2
The Return to Surrender
The speaker realizes that arguing for worldly gain robs God of His rightful place, questions whether high places truly honor God, and resolves to stand by his original gift of surrender.
But when I argue and grieve like this, I recover my sight, and by pilfering what I once gave, I strip you of your right.34 How do I know that if you raised me up, I would then raise you? Perhaps high places and your praise don't go well together.5 So I stand by my gift; I'll give no more advice. Only lend me a hand, since you have both my eyes.
Read the original English
BUt that thou art my wisdome, Lord, And both mine eyes are thine, My minde would be extreamly stirr'd For missing my designe.
Were it not better to bestow Some place and power on me? Then should thy praises with me grow, And share in my degree.
But when I thus dispute and grieve, I do resume my sight, And pilfring what I once did give, Disseize thee of thy right.
How know I, if thou shouldst me raise, That I should then raise thee? Perhaps great places and thy praise Do not so well agree.
Wherefore unto my gift I stand; I will no more advise: Onely do thou lend me a hand, Since thou hast both mine eyes.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Cor.1.24;Col.2.3 — but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Col.2.3 — in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source 'But that' is the Early Modern exceptive/counterfactual ('if it were not that'); rendered to keep the failed-design agitation contingent on God's wisdom and ownership of the speaker's sight.
- 2 ↩Source 'degree' means rank or standing, not academic degree; rendered as 'rank' for modern clarity.
- 3 ↩Source 'Disseize' is legal English for wrongfully dispossessing someone of property or title; rendered as 'strip you of your right' to keep the claim-of-title force without archaic law jargon.
- 4 ↩Source 'resume my sight' means regain clear vision/perception after the self-serving argument; not literal eyesight alone.
- 5 ↩'Great places' rendered as high places/stations of honor, not physical locations; 'thy praise' is praise directed to God, not praise received from others.
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