As birds their infant brood protect
Book 1, Hymn 72 · William Cowper · Public-domain words
As birds their infant brood protect
Book 1, Hymn 72 · William Cowper
The words
- 1
Stanza 1. As birds their infant brood protect,And spread their wings to shelter them;Thus saith the LORD to his elect,“So will I guard Jerusalem.”
- 2
Stanza 2. And what then is Jerusalem,This darling object of his care?Where is its worth in God’s esteem,Who built it? who inhabits there?
- 3
Stanza 3. Jehovah founded it in blood,The blood of his incarnate Son;There dwell the saints, once foes to God,The sinners, whom he calls his own.
- 4
Stanza 4. There, though besieged on every side,Yet much beloved and guarded well;From age to age they have defied,The utmost force of earth and hell.
- 5
Stanza 5. Let earth repent, and hell despair,This city has a sure defence;Her name is called, the LORD is there,And who has pow’r to drive him thence.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 72. William Cowper. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-72
About these words
William Cowper lived from 1731 to 1800. These historical words are public domain.
This hymn belongs to the complete three-book collection first published in 1779.
The CCEL transcription modernizes spelling and some punctuation. Read this hymn at the source. Checked 23 October 2026.
No sheet music or recordings are included. This web collection is separate from the PrayLock iPhone app.
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