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Ye sons of Adam, vain and young Youth and judgment, Eccles. 11. 9

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 89, under Ecclesiastes 11:9.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 89

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Ecclesiastes 11:9 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 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

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

Ye sons of Adam, vain and young

Ye sons of Adam, vain and young,

Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue,

Taste the delight your souls desire,

And give a loose to all your fire.

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Watts found it

Watts printed the hymn under Ecclesiastes 11:9. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. ECCLESIASTES 11:9 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ECCLESIASTES 11

Pursue the pleasures ye design, And cheer your hearts with songs and wine, Enjoy the day of mirth; but know There is a day of judgment too. STANZA II

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 89. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 89 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Ye sons of Adam, vain and young

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