The Cyber Hymnal ‎#9464

9464. When Men, Pretending To Be Wise

1 When men, pretending to be wise,
Forsook plain nature’s rule,
Their minds in endless mazes lost,
The man became the fool.

2 Tho’ nature showed the One supreme,
Fancy soon marred her book;
And for the God that made the world,
His various works mistook.

3 Sun, moon, and stars, are first adored,
Then man is made divine;
Each people form their guardian god,
And bow before his shrine.

4 The nations still more stupid grow,
And turn to very stocks;
The learned Egyptian’s god behold,
It is a grazing ox.

5 Blush, Israel, blush, the chosen seed
Into like madness run;
Israel first saved, then bid to hear
The Lord their God was one.

6 Their gods above, and gods below,
Let heathen nations frame;
One is our God, and Father, too,
Jehovah is His name.

Text Information

• First Line: When men, pretending to be wise
• Title: When Men, Pretending To Be Wise
• Author: John Needham
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Hymns Devotional and Moral on Various Subjects (Bristol, England: S. Farley, 1768)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: DALEHURST
• Composer: Arthur Cottman
• Meter: CM
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Public Domain