STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews Religion vain without love, 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 134, under 1 Corinthians 13:1–3.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 134

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 4 stanzas as Watts printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

Where Watts found it

Watts printed the hymn under 1 Corinthians 13:1–3. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1–3 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 1 CORINTHIANS 13

Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, And nobler speech that angels use, If love be absent, I am found Like tinkling brass, an empty sound. STANZA I

Its place in the book

Book I of the hymn book, “Collected from the Holy Scriptures”, holds these hymns in this order: 179 hymns. This is number 134. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 134 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.