“I gave my life for thee”

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)

I GAVE my life for thee,

My precious blood I shed

That thou might’st ransomed be,

And quickened from the dead.

I gave my life for thee;

What hast thou given for me?

I spent long years for thee

In weariness and woe,

That an eternity

Of joy thou mightest know.

I spent long years for thee;

Hast thou spent one for me?

My Father’s home of light,

My rainbow-circled throne,

I left, for earthly night,

For wanderings sad and lone.

I left it all for thee;

Hast thou left aught for me?

I suffered much for thee,

More than thy tongue may tell

Of bitterest agony,

To rescue thee from hell.

I suffered much for thee;

What canst thou bear for me?

And I have brought to thee,

Down from my home above,

Salvation full and free,

My pardon and my love.

Great gifts I brought to thee;

What hast thou brought to me?

Oh, let thy life be given,

Thy years for him be spent,

World-fetters all be riven,

And joy with suffering blent;

I gave myself for thee:

Give thou thyself to me!