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Amazing grace how sweet the sound

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, the hymn book he made with William Cowper, under a verse from 1 Chronicles where David asks how God has brought him this far.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · Book I, no. 41

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

IN HYMNALS

1,811 listed at Hymnary.org

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All six stanzas as Newton printed them. Beside the lines that echo a verse, the verse hymnal editors attach to the hymn. Hover a line or a verse to join them; click to read the passage. Below the hymn, the same links as a constellation.

11 echoes in 24 lines.

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The six stanzas at the centre; around them, every book hymnal editors tie the hymn to, Old Testament on the left and New on the right, sized by how many of its passages they name. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse hymnal editors tie the hymn here

STANZA I

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

Where Newton found it

He printed the hymn under David's prayer after God's promise of a lasting house. David asks why God has brought him "this far"; the hymn answers that grace has brought me "safe thus far".

Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 1 CHRONICLES 17:16 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. STANZA III

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 41, the only one on 1 Chronicles. (Across all three books Newton wrote 281 hymns, Cowper 68.) Hover a tick to see the hymn.

NO. 41 · 1 CHRONICLES · JOHN NEWTON Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

Where hymnals place it

Printed hymnals list, for each hymn, the Bible passages it goes with, so a church can choose a hymn for the day's reading. Gathered from the hymnals Hymnary.org catalogues, editors have tied this hymn to 99 passages in 30 books. One square is one passage; a ringed square is one the hymn's own lines echo. Point at a square to read it; click to open it beside the page.

Genesis 1

Exodus 3

1 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 2

1 Kings 1

1 Chronicles 4

Psalms 18

Proverbs 1

Isaiah 1

Jeremiah 2

Daniel 1

Amos 1

Matthew 1

Mark 1

Luke 8

John 6

Acts 1

Romans 9

1 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 8

Ephesians 11

Colossians 1

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1

Titus 3

Hebrews 2

2 Peter 2

1 John 2

Revelation 1

1 SAMUEL 7:12ECHOED IN STANZA III

12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

a passage hymnals tie it to one its lines echo (16)

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