Hymn
Religion Vain Without Love
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews,
And nobler speech than angels use,
If love be absent, I am found,
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
Were I inspired to preach and tell
All that is done in heaven and hell;
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
Should I distribute all my store
To feed the bowels of the poor;
Or give my body to the flame,
To gain a martyr's glorious name,--
If love to God, and love to men
Be absent, all my hopes are vain;
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal
The work of love can e'er fulfil.
Religion Vain Without Love — Text from The Book of Worship, 1867. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/religion-vain-without-love
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Religion Vain Without Love?
The words of Religion Vain Without Love were written by Isaac Watts; the version here was published in 1867. The library holds 248 more hymns by Isaac Watts, including The Saint's Trial and Safety and In the Sanctuary.
Is Religion Vain Without Love public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from The Book of Worship, published in 1867. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of Religion Vain Without Love?
Religion Vain Without Love is in Long Metre (8.8.8.8). Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, Dear Savior, if these lambs should stray, O come, loud anthems let us sing and The Royal Banners Forward Go.