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Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 441

Amazing Grace

Words: John Newton

Studio

1Amazing 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.

2'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

3Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Also sung to
New Britain (Hymns and Tunes 1886 #388)
Scripture
1 Chronicles 17:16-17; Ephesians 2:8

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.6.8.6
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 74% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABAB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound˘/˘///˘/8A
That saved a wretch like me!˘/˘//˘6B
I once was lost, but now am found;˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Was blind, but now I see.˘/˘/˘/6B

Verse 2

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,//˘/˘/˘/8A
And grace my fears relieved;˘/˘/˘/6B
How precious did that grace appear//˘˘˘/˘/8A
The hour I first believed!˘/˘˘/˘/7B

Verse 3

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,//˘/˘/˘/8A
I have already come;˘˘˘/˘/6B
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,////˘///8C
And grace will lead me home.˘/˘/˘/6D

Verse 4

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,˘/˘/˘///8A
The sun forbear to shine;˘/??˘/6B
But God, who called me here below,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Will be forever mine.˘˘˘/˘/6B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.