Forgive Them, O My Father

Representative Text

1 'Forgive them, O my Father,
they know not what they do:'
the Saviour spoke in anguish,
as the sharp nails went through.

2 No word of anger spake he
to them that shed his blood,
but prayer and tenderest pity
large as the love of God.

3 For me was that compassion,
for me that tender care;
I need his wide forgiveness
as much as any there.

4 It was my pride and hardness
that hung Him on the tree;
those cruel nails, O Saviour,
were driven in by me.

5 And often I have slighted
thy gentle voice that chid:
forgive me too, Lord Jesus;
I knew not what I did.

6 O depth of sweet compassion!
O love divine and true!
Save thou the souls that slight thee,
and know not what they do.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #153

Author: Cecil Frances Alexander

As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (b. Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland, 1818; Londonderry, Ireland, 1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf. Alexander was strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement and by John Keble's Christian Year. Her first book of poetry, Verses for Seasons, was a "Christian Year" for children. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandment… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Forgive them, O my Father
Title: Forgive Them, O My Father
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Forgive them, O my Father. Cecil F. Alexander. [Good Friday.] Contributed to the revised edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1875, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and based on the words "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." In 1881 it was repeated in Mrs. Brock's Children's Hymn Book, and is also found in one or two American collections.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

ST. MARGARET (Statham)


CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN

Melchior Vulpius (PHH 397) composed this short chorale tune, published as a setting for the anonymous funeral hymn "Christus, der ist mein Leben" ("For Me to Live Is Jesus") in Vulpius's Ein Schön Geistlich Gesangbuch (1609). Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) based his Cantata 95 on this tune and provided two…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1587
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Instances

Instances (1 - 34 of 34)

American Church and Church School Hymnal #d83

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American Church and Church School Hymnal #121

Book of Common Praise #d129

Church Hymnal, Third Edition #129

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CPWI Hymnal #153

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book with Accompanying Tunes (Second Edition) #151

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #89

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #151

Hymns Ancient and Modern (Standard ed.) #115

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Edition #130

Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised #114

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Hymns of the Living Church #141

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Sursum Corda #200

The American Hymnal #d141

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The Baptist Hymnal, for Use in the Church and Home #131

The Baptist Hymnal #131

The Baptist Hymnal. Shaped notes ed. #d146

The Book of Common Praise #d134

The Book of Common Praise #143a

The Book of Common Praise #143b

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The Book of Common Praise #148

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The Chapel Hymnal with Tunes #102

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The Children's Hymn Book #112

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The Church Hymnary #59

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The Cyber Hymnal #1587

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The English Hymnal #112

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The English Hymnal #112

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The Evangelical Hymnal with Tunes #290

The National Baptist Hymn Book #d145

The National Baptist Hymn Book #ad145

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The National Baptist Hymnal #151

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The Sanctuary Hymnal, published by Order of the General Conference of the United Brethren in Christ #197

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The Scottish Hymnal #39

The Second Belfrey Book #d4

Exclude 31 pre-1979 instances
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