A Hymn to God the Father

Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which is my sin though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive [those sins]1, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done, 
For I have more.

Wilt thou forgive that sin by which [I've]2 won
Others to sin? And make my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two: but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done, 
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when [I've]2 spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thy self, that at my death thy [Son]3 
shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And having done that, thou hast done, 
I fear no more.

by John Donne (1572-1631) , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1623

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Gary Bachlund , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1987. [tenor and piano]
by Edgar Leslie Bainton (1880-1956) , "A Hymn to God the Father", published 1926, first performed 1926. [chorus and orchestra]
by Guy Henry Eldridge , "A Hymn to God the Father", published 1974. [anthem for four-part mixed chorus a cappella]
by John Hilton (1599?-1657) , "A Hymn to God the Father", published 1961.
by Pelham Humfrey (1647-1674) , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1688, published 1947, from Harmonia Sacra, arranged by Michael Tippett and Walter Bergmann
by John Joubert (1927-) , "A Hymn to God the Father", op. 114, published 1989, first performed 1987. [mixed unaccompanied voices]
by Dorian Le Gallienne (1915-1963) , "A Hymn to God the Father", published 1967, from Four Divine Poems of John Donne, no. ?
by Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994) , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1965, first performed 1966. [tenor and piano]
by Denis Mason , "Wilt thou forgive" [ATB chorus a cappella]
by John McCabe (1939-) , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1966. [anthem for SATB chorus]
by Edmund Duncan Rubbra (1901-1986) , "A Hymn to God the Father", 1964. [motet for chorus a cappella]
by Alec Wyton , "A Hymn to God the Father", published 1978.

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