Coram Deo
IW

Vain Are the Hopes, the Sons of Men

Isaac Watts· Post-Reformation

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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”