STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

As birds their infant brood protect JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH

William Cowper printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 72.

WRITTEN BY

William Cowper 1731–1800

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 72

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

A subject no verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 stanzas as Cowper printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

As birds their infant brood protect

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.”

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 72. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 72 · WILLIAM COWPER · THIS HYMN As birds their infant brood protect

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.