Skip to content

Prayer an answer will obtain

Book 1, Hymn 88 · John Newton · Public-domain words

The words

  1. Stanza 1. Prayer an answer will obtain,Though the Lord awhile delay;None shall seek his face in vain,None be empty sent away.

  2. Stanza 2. When the woman came from Tyre,And for help to JESUS sought;Though he granted her desire,Yet at first he answered not.

  3. Stanza 3. Could she guess at his intent,When he to his follow’rs said,“I to Israel’s sheep am sent,Dogs must not have children’s bread.”

  4. Stanza 4. She was not of Israel’s seed,But of Canaan’s wretched race;Thought herself a dog indeed;Was not this a hopeless case?

  5. Stanza 5. Yet although from Canaan sprung,Though a dog herself she styled;She had Israel’s faith and tongue,And was owned for Abraham’s child.

  6. Stanza 6. From his words she draws a plea;Though unworthy children’s bread,’Tis enough for one like me,If with crumbs I may be fed.

  7. Stanza 7. Jesus then his heart revealed,“Woman canst thou thus believe?I to thy petition yield,All that thou canst wish, receive.

  8. Stanza 8. ’Tis a pattern set for us,How we ought to wait and pray;None who plead and wrestle thus,Shall be empty sent away.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 88. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-88

About these words

John Newton lived from 1725 to 1807. These historical words are public domain.

This hymn belongs to the complete three-book collection first published in 1779.

The CCEL transcription modernizes spelling and some punctuation. Read this hymn at the source. Checked 23 October 2026.

No sheet music or recordings are included. This web collection is separate from the PrayLock iPhone app.

Begin with prayer.

Choose the apps that take your attention, and put prayer before them. PrayLock requires a Pro subscription.

Download on theApp Store
QR code linking to PrayLock on the App Store

On a computer? Scan with your iPhone camera to open PrayLock on the App Store.