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Vain are the hopes the sons of men Justification by faith, not by works; or, The law condemns, grace justifies, Rom. 3. 19-22

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 94, under Romans 3:19–22.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 94

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Romans 3:19–22 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 Romans 3:19–22. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. 21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, ROMANS 3:19–22 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ROMANS 3

Let Jew and Gentile stop their mouths Without a murmuring word, And the whole race of Adam stand Guilty before the Lord. 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 94. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 94 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Vain are the hopes the sons of men

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