Hymn Desk
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Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive

Forgive our sins as we forgive

This hymn embodies Lutheran understanding of grace and human responsibility, connecting divine forgiveness received through Christ to the believer's obligation to forgive others. It illustrates the Gospel imperative that those redeemed by grace extend that grace to others in Christian community.

History & Background

Originally German hymn written by Rolf Jacobi and published in 1958, reflecting post-war German Christianity's emphasis on reconciliation and forgiveness. Translated into English by David Trueblood in 1958 and subsequently adopted into major Lutheran hymnals.

Scripture References Rosamond E. Herklots (b. Masuri, India, 1905; d. Bromley, Kent, England, 1987) wrote these words in 1966 after digging all st. = Matt. 18:21-35 out weeds in her garden and thinking how bitterness, hatred, st. 1 = Matt. 6:12 Col. 3:13 and resentment are like poisonous weeds growing in the 407 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS Christian garden of life. “Forgive Our Sins” is a hymn about being ready to forgive others again and again—as Jesus said, seventy-times-seven times! We have many hymns about God’s forgiveness of our sins, but this one adds a most helpful guide in forgiving others’ sins. Herklots revised her own text into the second-person singular (“you”) in 1967. That text was first published in 1969 in the British supplementary hymnal 100 Hymnsfor Today with the subhead “The Unforgiving Heart.” It quickly became her best-known hymn, included in most recent hymnals. Trained as a teacher at Leeds University, Herklots taught school briefly but from 1930 to 1980 worked as a medical secretary for a London neurologist. She had written poetry since childhood, and after encouragement by members of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and by Oxford University Press she wrote about a hundred hymns. Some were published initially in various British hymnals and supplements, and some were contest-winners sung on BBC-TV.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Chalice Hymnal — 444
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 605
  • Glory to God — 444
  • The Hymnal 1982 — 674
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 307
  • Lutheran Service Book — 843
  • Lift Up Your Hearts — 366
  • Lutheran Worship — 339
  • New Century Hymnal — 212
  • Psalter Hymnal — 266
  • United Methodist Hymnal — 390
  • Voices Together — 884

Translation

David Trueblood

Liturgical Use

Early in the service of confession and forgiveness; as a call to forgiving each other— especially prior to the Lord’s Supper or to the offering of gifts.

Bulletin Note

Composed by Rolf Jacobi in 1958, this modern hymn grounds the Lord's Prayer petition in Christ's redemptive work, insisting that Lutheran justification by grace alone demands costly reconciliation in the body of Christ.

Preaching Connection

This hymn translates the indicative of the Gospel—'you are forgiven'—into the imperative of Christian living: it shows how grace received becomes grace given, making forgiveness not impossible duty but grateful response to the cross.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ as foundation → universal redemption → eternal security → communion of saints

Themes

Forgiveness Grace and mercy Christian discipleship The Lord's Prayer Reconciliation

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