Christian Classics
‹ Olney Hymns

John Newton & William Cowper · 21 of 356

20. How blest the righteous are

Hymn 20

How blest the righteous are When they resign their breath! No wonder Balaam wished to share In such a happy death.

“Oh! let me die, said he, The death the righteous do; When life is ended let me be Found with the faithful few.”

The force of truth how great! When enemies confess, None but the righteous whom they hate, A solid hope possess.

But Balaam’s wish was vain, His heart was insincere; He thirsted for unrighteous gain, And sought a portion here.

He seemed the LORD to know, And to offend him loth; But Mammon proved his overthrow, For none can serve them both.

May you, my friends, and I, Warning from hence receive; If like the righteous we would die, To choose the life they live.