IW
Verse 1
Vain are the hopes, the sons of men
On their own works have built;
Their hearts by nature all unclean,
And all their actions, guilt.
Verse 2
Let Jew and Gentile stop their mouths,
Without a murm’ring word;
And the whole race of Adam stand
Guilty before the Lord.
Verse 3
In vain we ask God’s righteous law
To justify us now,
Since to convince, and to condemn,
Is all the law can do.
Verse 4
Jesus! how glorious is thy grace!
When in thy name we trust,
Our faith receives a righteousness,
That makes the sinner just.
Isaac Watts, “Vain Are the Hopes, the Sons of Men”