I Gave My Life for Thee - Lyrics

1 I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightst ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou done for Me?

2 My Father's house of light,
My glory-circled throne
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?

3 I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony,
To rescue thee from hell;
I've borne, I've borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?
I've borne, I've borne it all for thee,
What hast thou borne for Me?

4 And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?

“I Gave My Life for Thee” was written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1858, when she was just 22 years old. The words came to her after she saw a painting of the crucified Christ with the caption beneath: “I did this for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” Struck to the heart, she immediately penned the verses in one sitting. Though she initially doubted their quality and tucked them away, her father—a hymn writer himself—saw their depth and composed a tune to match. Since then, the hymn has moved countless hearts with its intimate tone and convicting message.

Unlike many hymns that are sung from the believer’s perspective, this one is written in the voice of Jesus Himself. The opening lines—*“I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed”—*are a tender yet piercing reminder of the personal nature of Christ’s sacrifice. It draws the worshiper not just into a reflection on the cross, but into a conversation with the Savior, who asks: “What hast thou given for Me?” It’s not condemnation, but invitation—a gentle appeal to live in gratitude and surrender.

Each verse highlights a different aspect of what Christ gave up for us—His life, His heavenly glory, His rest, His care—and contrasts it with the opportunity we now have to respond. The hymn doesn’t demand heroic acts in return; rather, it asks for the heart, for love that flows from remembrance. It calls believers to weigh their lives against the mercy they’ve received—not to earn salvation, but to honor it. In this way, Havergal's hymn speaks directly to the believer’s conscience in the quiet corners of daily life.

This hymn is not loud or dramatic, but deeply personal. It invites the singer to kneel in heart before the crucified Christ and consider: “What am I holding back?” Havergal herself lived what she wrote, later penning the well-known consecration hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be.” Her life was short—only 42 years—but her words continue to stir souls toward a life of willing, joyful sacrifice. “I Gave My Life for Thee” remains a gentle but unmistakable call to live wholly for the One who gave all.