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Alas! Elisha’s servant cried More with us than with them

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 40, under 2 Kings 6:16.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 40

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

2 Kings 6:16 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 4 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

Alas! Elisha’s servant cried

Alas! Elisha’s servant cried,

When he the Syrian army spied,

But he was soon released from care,

In answer to the prophet’s prayer.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under 2 Kings 6:16. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 KINGS 6:16 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 2 KINGS 6

Straitway he saw, with other eyes, A greater army from the skies; A fiery guard around the hill, Thus are the saints preserved still. STANZA II

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

NO. 40 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Alas! Elisha’s servant cried

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