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Shall atheists dare insult the cross Hymn 33

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 33, under 1 Corinthians 1:26–31.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 33

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 6 stanzas as Watts 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

Shall atheists dare insult the cross

Of our Redeemer, God?

Shall infidels reproach his laws,

Or trample on his blood?

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Watts found it

Watts printed the hymn under 1 Corinthians 1:26–31. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast in His presence. 30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26–31 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 1 CORINTHIANS 1

What if the foolish and the poor His glorious grace partake, This but confirms his truth the more, For so the prophets spake. STANZA IV

Its place in the book

Book I of the hymn book, “Collected from the Holy Scriptures”, holds these hymns in this order: 179 hymns. This is number 33. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 33 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Shall atheists dare insult the cross

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