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O God, oh! of thine only worthy blood, And my tears, make…

“O God, oh! of thine only worthy blood, And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood, And drown in it my sins' black memory. That thou remember them, some claim as debt; I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.” quote by John Donne
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“O God, oh! of thine only worthy blood, And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood, And drown in it my sins' black memory. That thou remember them, some claim as debt; I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.”

John Donne

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker begs divine mercy, preferring forgiveness over remembrance of sins, seeking a flood that washes away guilt.

In simple terms: Ask God to forget sins rather than punish them.

Key Takeaway

Seek forgiveness and let go of guilt.

Themes

faith forgiveness spiritual cleansing

Mood

contemplative solemn

Type

religious poetic

When to use this quote

  • prayer
  • confession
  • spiritual counseling
  • ritual cleansing

Key Concepts

divine mercy guilt redemption

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does forgiveness mean to you?
  • How can you reconcile guilt with mercy?
A Different Perspective

Divine forgetting may conflict with personal accountability.

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