STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

When a black overspreading cloud Thunder

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 83, under 2 Peter 3:10.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 83

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

2 Peter 3:10 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

When a black overspreading cloud

Has dark’ned all the air;

And peals of thunder roaring loud

Proclaim the tempest near.

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 Peter 3:10. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. 2 PETER 3:10 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 2 PETER 3

But whither shall the sinner flee, When nature’s mighty frame, The pond’rous earth, and air, and sea, Shall all dissolve in flame? STANZA V

Its place in the book

Book II of the hymn book, “On occasional subjects”, holds these hymns in this order: 100 hymns. This is number 83. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 83 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN When a black overspreading cloud

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.