STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

When Adam fell he quickly lost CAIN and ABEL. Gen 4:3-8

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 2, under Genesis 4:3–8.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 2

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Genesis 4:3–8 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 8 stanzas as Newton 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

When Adam fell he quickly lost

God’s image, which he once possessed:

See All our nature since could boast

In Cain, his first–born Son, expressed!

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

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Genesis 4:3–8. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

3So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. 6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” 8Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. GENESIS 4:3–8 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ GENESIS 4

By Cain’s own hand, good Abel died, Because the Lord approved his faith; And, when his blood for vengeance cried, He vainly thought to hide his death. STANZA IV

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 2. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 2 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN When Adam fell he quickly lost

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.