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One there is, above all others A friend that sticketh closer than a brother

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 53, under Proverbs 18:24.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 53

METRE

8.7.8.7.7.7 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Proverbs 18:24 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 6 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

One there is, above all others

One there is, above all others,

Well deserves the name of friend;

His is love beyond a brother’s,

Costly, free, and knows no end:

They who once his kindness prove,

Find it everlasting love!

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Proverbs 18:24. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. PROVERBS 18:24 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PROVERBS 18

O for grace our hearts to soften! Teach us, Lord, at length to love; We, alas! forget too often, What a Friend we have above: But when home our souls are brought, We will love thee as we ought. STANZA VI

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

NO. 53 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN One there is, above all others

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