For the Distress of War

Behold, O God, what cruel foes

Author: Joel Barlow
Published in 24 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Behold, O God, what cruel foes,
Thy peaceful heritage invade;
Thy holy temple stands defil'd,
In dust thy sacred walls are laid.

2 Wise o'er the valleys, drench'd in blood,
Thy people fall'n in death remain;
The fowls of heav'n their flesh devour,
And savage beasts divide the slain.

3 The insulting foes, with impious rage,
Reproach thy children to their face;
"Where is your God of boasted pow'r,
And where the promise of his grace."

4 Deep from the prison's horrid glooms,
Oh hear the mournful captive sigh,
And let thy sov'reign pow'r reprieve,
The trembling souls condemn'd to die.

5 Let those, who dar'd insult thy reign,
Return dismay'd with endless shame,
While heathens, who by thy grace despise
Shall from thy vengeance learn thy name.

6 So shall thy children, freed from death,
Eternal songs of honour raise,
And ev'ry future age shall tell,
Thy sov'reign pow'r and pard'ning grace.

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #P.LXXIX

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 This work, published in 1786, went through various editions, and, although officially superseded by Dwight in 1800, it continued to be issued for many years after.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: Behold, O God, what cruel foes
Title: For the Distress of War
Author: Joel Barlow
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 24 of 24)

Church Hymn Book . 3rd ed. #d47

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Church Hymn Book #P.LXXIX

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #149

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #140a

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

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #132

Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God #d74

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #P79

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Psalms, carefully suited to the Christian worship in the United States of America #162

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Psalms #79

Sacred poetry #d44

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Sacred Poetry #aLXXIX

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Sacred Poetry #LXXIX

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The Columbian Repository #180

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The Psalms and Hymns #P79

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