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If Solomon for wisdom prayed Ask what I shall give thee

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 32, under 1 Kings 3:5.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 32

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

1 Kings 3:5 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

If Solomon for wisdom prayed

If Solomon for wisdom prayed,

The Lord before had made him wise;

Else he another choice had made,

And asked for what the worldlings prize.

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 1 Kings 3:5. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” 1 KINGS 3:5 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 1 KINGS 3

And dost thou say, “Ask what thou wilt?” Lord, I would seize the golden hour; I pray to be released from guilt, And freed from sin and Satan’s pow’r. STANZA V

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

NO. 32 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN If Solomon for wisdom prayed

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