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Poor, weak, and worthless though I am Is this thy kindness to thy friend

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 30, under 2 Samuel 16:17.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 30

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

2 Samuel 16:17 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

Poor, weak, and worthless though I am

Poor, weak, and worthless though I am,

I have a rich almighty friend;

Jesus, the Savior, is his name,

He freely loves, and without end.

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 2 Samuel 16:17. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” 2 SAMUEL 16:17 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 2 SAMUEL 16

But ah! I my inmost spirit mourns, And well my eyes with tears may swim, To think of my perverse returns; I’ve been a faithless friend to him. 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 30. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 30 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Poor, weak, and worthless though I am

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