Scripture Verse

The sting of death is sin. 1 Corinthians 15:56

Introduction

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs 1707–09, Book 2, num­ber 150. The de­ceit­ful­ness of sin.

Music: Rem­sen Jo­seph P. Hol­brook, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Joseph P. Holbrook (1822–1888)

Lyrics

Sin has a thou­sand trea­cher­ous arts
To prac­tice on the mind;
With flat­ter­ing looks she tempts our hearts,
But leaves a sting be­hind.

With names of vir­tue she de­ceives
The ag­èd and the young;
And while the heed­less wretch be­lieves,
She makes his fet­ters strong.

She pleads for all the joys she brings,
And gives a fair pre­tense;
But cheats the soul of heav’n­ly things,
And chains it down to sense.

So on a tree di­vine­ly fair
Grew the for­bid­den food;
Our mo­ther took the poi­son there
And taint­ed all her blood.