The Folly of Self-Dependence

Why should the haughty hero boast

Author: Joel Barlow
Tune: TYROL (Holyoke)
Published in 15 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Why should the haughty hero boast
His vengeful arm, his warlike host?
While blood defiles his cruel hand,
And desolation wastes the land.

2 He joys to hear the captive's cry,
The widow's groan, the orphan's sigh;
And when the weary'd sword would spare,
His falsehood spreads the fatal snare.

3 He triumphs in the deeds of wrong,
And arms with rage his impious tongue;
With pride proclaims his dreadful pow'r,
And b ids the trembling world adore.

4 But God beholds, and with a frown,
Casts to the dust his honours down;
The righteous freed, their hopes recal,
And hail the proud oppressor's fall.

5 How low the insulting tyrant lies,
Who dar'd th' eternal Pow'r despise;
And vainly deem'd with envious joy,
His arm Almighty to destroy.

6 We praise the Lord, who heard our cries,
And sent salvation from the skies;
The saints, who saw our mournful days,
Shall join our grateful songs of praise.

Source: Psalms: carefully suited to the Christian worship in the United States of America: being an improvement of the old versions of the Psalms of David #52b

Author: Joel Barlow

Barlow, Joel, born at Reading, Connecticut, 1755 [sic], graduated at Yale 1778, and died near Cracow, Poland, 1812, He was well known as an author and politician during and after the American Revolution. His publications include Hasty Pudding; Columbia, &c. In 1785, at the request of the (Congregational) General Association of Connecticut, he corrected and enlarged Dr. Watts's Psalms, supplying those omitted by Watts, and adapting the whole to American thought and circumstances. This work, published in 1786, went through various editions, and, although officially superseded by Dwight in 1800, it continued to be issued for many years after. Its title is somewhat curious as setting forth its design. It reads:— Psalms carefully suited to the… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Why should the haughty hero boast
Title: The Folly of Self-Dependence
Author: Joel Barlow
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 15 of 15)
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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #P52.2

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The Columbian Repository #128

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The Psalms and Hymns #P52a

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #104b

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #97b

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #LIIb

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Psalms, carefully suited to the Christian worship in the United States of America #112

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Psalms #52b

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The Psalms of David #52

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