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 murmuring 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”

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