All you hypocrites and liars
In the temple seeking gain
All you senators and lawyers
With your motives to explain
All you victims and heroes
Your petitions to complain
All you murderers and martyrs
On the fields where you lay slain
On the just and unjust alike it doth rain
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Vengeance and revenge are just two words for pain
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Did not I crucify my Lord
Did not I bind Him in chain
Did not I three times betray Him
Three times deny His name
Did not I cast the first stone
And then justify the blame
Did not He die for my sins
But never would I do the same
I've been three times a sinner and two times a saint
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Love, if it's love, is changing but unchanged
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Dead Man Walking (Columbia 1995)
In the temple seeking gain
All you senators and lawyers
With your motives to explain
All you victims and heroes
Your petitions to complain
All you murderers and martyrs
On the fields where you lay slain
On the just and unjust alike it doth rain
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Vengeance and revenge are just two words for pain
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Did not I crucify my Lord
Did not I bind Him in chain
Did not I three times betray Him
Three times deny His name
Did not I cast the first stone
And then justify the blame
Did not He die for my sins
But never would I do the same
I've been three times a sinner and two times a saint
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Love, if it's love, is changing but unchanged
And the quality of mercy is not strained
Dead Man Walking (Columbia 1995)