Think gently of the err­ing one;
O let us not for­get,
However dark­ly stained by sin,
He is our bro­ther yet!

Heir of the same in­her­it­ance,
Child of the self­same God,
He hath but stum­bled in the path
We have in weak­ness trod.

Speak gent­ly to the err­ing ones:
We yet may lead them back,
With ho­ly words, and tones of love,
From mis­ery’s thor­ny track.

Forget not, bro­ther, thou hast sinned,
And sin­ful yet may’st be;
Deal gent­ly with the err­ing heart,
As God has dealt with thee.