Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FORGIVE, by REGINALD HEBER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FORGIVE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh god! My sins are manifold; against my life they cry
Last Line: "forgive!"" the voice of thunder spake, ""or never be forgiven!"
Variant Title(s): Hymn: Twenty-second Sunday After Trinity
Subject(s): Forgiveness; Clemency


OH GOD! my sins are manifold, against my life they cry,
And all my guilty deeds foregone, up to Thy temple fly;
Wilt thou release my trembling soul that to despair is driven?
"Forgive!" a blessed voice replied, "and thou shalt be forgiven!"

Myfoemen, Lord! are fierce and fell, they spurn me in their pride,
They render evil for my good, my patience they deride;
Arise, oh King, and be the proud to righteous ruin driven!
"Forgive!" an awful answer came, "as thou wouldst be forgiven!"

Seven times, O Lord! I pardon'd them, seven times they sinn'd again:
They practise still to work me woe, they triumph in my pain:
But let them dread my vengeance now, to just resentment driven!
"Forgive!" the voice of thunder spake, "or never be forgiven!"





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