Time, what an empty vapor 'tis!

Time, what an empty vapor 'tis!

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 54 hymnals

Full Text

Time, what an empty vapor 'tis!
And days, how swift they are!
Swift as an Indian arrow flies,
Or like a shooting star.

[The present moments just appear,
Then slide away in haste,
That we can never say, "They're here,"
But only say, "They're past."]

[Our life is ever on the wing,
And death is ever nigh;
The moment when our lives begin
We all begin to die.]

Yet, mighty God! our fleeting days
Thy lasting favors share,
Yet with the bounties of thy grace
Thou load'st the rolling year.

'Tis sovereign mercy finds us food,
And we are clothed with love;
While grace stands pointing out the road
That leads our souls above.

His goodness runs an endless round;
All glory to the Lord!
His mercy never knows a bound,
And be his name adored!

Thus we begin the lasting song;
And when we close our eyes,
Let the next age thy praise prolong,
Till time and nature dies.



Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.58

All full texts • Compare texts^ top

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

First Line: Time, what an empty vapor 'tis!
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
^ top

Timeline

^ top

Instances

Instances (54)TextImageAudioScore
A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d786
A Choice Selection of Evangelical Hymns, from various authors: for the use of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church in New York #401Image
A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of the Baptist Church and all lovers of song #288Image
A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #598Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #XXXVText
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #353Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship (Rev. ed. with supplement) #353Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns: from Watts, Doddridge, and others (4th ed. with an appendix) #440Image
A New and Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Regular Baptist Church. 10th ed. #d487
A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: from the best authors; designed for the use of conference meetings, private circles, and congregations (21st ed. with an appendix) #495Image
A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors: adapted to Public Worship and Social Prayer Meetings #d390
A Selection of Sacred Poetry: consisting of psalms and hymns from Watts, Doddridge, Merrick, Scott, Cowper, Barbauld, Steele, and others (2nd ed.) #440Image
A Selection of Sacred Poetry: consisting of psalms and hymns, from Watts, Doddridge, Merrick, Scott, Cowper, Barbauld, Steele ...compiled for the use of the Unitarian Church in Philadelphia #440Image
Chapel Hymns #d584
Christian Psalmody, in Four Parts; containing Dr. Watt's Psalms Abridged; Dr. Watt's Hymns Abridged; Select Hymns from Other Authors; and Select Harmony: together with directions... (2nd. ed.) #WH.II.58Image
Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d948
Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d1067
Church Psalmody: or, hymns for public worship, selected from Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, and the Congregational Hymn Book #605Image
Congregational Hymn and Tune Book; containing the Psalms and Hymns of the General Association of Connecticut, adapted to Suitable Tunes #394Image
Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David: to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian church in general (Corr. and enl.) #H.XLIImage
Dr. Watts' Imitation of the Psalms ... Corrected and enlarged 3rd ed. #d80
Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches #512Image
Hymns and Offices of Worship: for use in schools: with an appendix of tunes #219Image
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books: I. collected fromt he scriptures, II. composed on divine subjects, III. prepared for the Lord's Supper #II.LVIIIImage
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination #897Image
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination. (New ed.) #897Image
Hymns for Christian Melody #849Image
Hymns for Social Worship: selected from Watts, Doddridge, Newton, Cowper, Steele and others #489Image
Hymns for the Hospital Chapel, Worcester #d219
Hymns for the Use of the Society of United Christian Friends Professing the Faith of Universal Salvation #d417
Hymns for the Use of the Society of United Christian Friends: with their constitution annexed #CXXVIIImage
Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs, including Some Never Before in Print #d317
Hymns Selected #d213
Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge and Various Other Writers #d212
Offices of Worship and Hymns: principally for use in schools. with an appendix of tunes (2nd and rev. ed.) #219Image
Parish Psalmody #d842
Parish Psalmody #d856
Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #H646Image
Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.58Text
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs ... for the Use of the United Church of Christ, Commonly Called Free Will Baptist #d302
Selection from Tate and Brady's Version of the Psalms; with Hymns by Various Authors, for the Church in Brattle-Square #d295
The Baptist Hymn Book: comprising a large and choice collection of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, adapted to the faith and order of the Old School, or Primitive Baptists (2nd stereotype Ed.) #1212Image
The Christian Harmony: in the Seven-Syllable Character Note System. Rev. ed. #d361
The Church Hymn Book #d1039
The Columbian Repository: or, Sacred Harmony: selected from European and American authors with many new tunes not before published #562Image
The Congregational Hymn Book: for the service of the sanctuary #1000Image
The Ebenezer Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, with an appendix Consisting of Miscellaneous Pieces. 6th ed. #d572
The Good Old Songs #d573
The Philadelphia Hymn Book; or, a selection of sacred poetry, consisting of psalms and hymns from Watts...and others, adapted to public and private devotion #440Image
The Psalmody: a collection of hymns for public and social worship #1057Image
The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #639Image
The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D.: to which are added select hymns, from other authors; and directions for musical expression (New ed.) #B58Image
The Psalms of David ... New ed. #d229
The Reformed Methodist Pocket Hymnal: Revised: collected from various authors. Designed for the worship of God in all Christian churches. #II.163Image
All instances^ top