When the poor pris’ner through a grate
Book 3, Hymn 34 · John Newton · Public-domain words
When the poor pris’ner through a grate
Book 3, Hymn 34 · John Newton
The words
- 1
Stanza 1. When the poor pris’ner through a grateSees others walk at large;How does he mourn his lonely state,And long for a discharge?
- 2
Stanza 2. Thus I, confined in unbelief,My loss of freedom mourn;And spend my hours in fruitless grief,Until my Lord return.
- 3
Stanza 3. The beam of day, which pierces throughThe gloom in which I dwell;Only discloses to my view,The horrors of my cell.
- 4
Stanza 4. Ah! how my pensive spirit faints,To think of former days!When I could triumph with the saints,And join their songs of praise!
- 5
Stanza 5. But now my joys are all cut off,In prison I am cast;And Satan, with a cruel scoff,Says, “Where’s your God at last?”
- 6
Stanza 6. Dear Savior, for thy mercies sake,My strong, my only plea,These gates and bars in pieces break,And set the pris’ner free!
- 7
Stanza 7. Surely my soul shall sing to thee,For liberty restored;And all thy saints admire to seeThe mercies of the LORD.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 3, Hymn 34. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/3-34
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.
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