The Cyber Hymnal ‎#13030

13030. What Poor Despised Company

1 What poor despised company
Of travelers are these,
That walk in yonder narrow way,
Along that rugged maze?

2 Ah, these are of a royal line,
All children of a king;
Heirs of immortal crowns divine,
And lo! for joy they sing.

3 Why do they then appear so mean,
And why so much despised?
Because of their rich robes unseen,
The world is not apprised.

4 But some of them seem poor distressed,
And lacking daily bread;
Ah, they’re of boundless wealth possessed,
With hidden manna fed.

5 But why keep they that narrow road,
That rugged thorny maze?
Why, that’s the way their leader trod,
They love and keep His ways.

6 Why must they shun the pleasant path,
That worldlings love so well?
Because that is the road to death,
The open road to hell.

7 What, is there then no other road,
To Salem’s happy ground?
Christ is the only way to God,
None other can be found.

Text Information

• First Line: What poor despised company
• Title: What Poor Despised Company
• Alterer: Anonymous
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: A Choice Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Intended for the Edification of Sincere Christians of All Denominations (New London: Conn.: 1774)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: BEATITUDO
• Composer: John Bacchus Dykes (1875)
• Meter: CM
• Key: G Major or modal
• Copyright: Public Domain