[Intro: Shelly Thunder] Forgive us our trespa**es as we forgive those that trespa** against us Although them again we will never, never, never trust Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Them nuh know what them do Dig out your eye, while I'm stickin like glue Fling, skin, grin, while them plotting for you, true! [Hook: Lauryn Hill (Shelly Thunder)] Forgive them father for they know not what they do (Me a tell you, dem nuh know) Forgive them father for they know not what they do (Fi be real, them nuh have a clue!) [Verse 1: Lauryn Hill] Beware the false motives of others Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you To you They say all the right things, to gain their position Then use your kindness as their ammunition To shoot you down in the name of amibition, they do Ohhh [Hook: Lauryn Hill] Forgive them father for they know not what they do Forgive them father for they know not what they do [Verse 2: Lauryn Hill] Why every Indian wanna be the chief? Feed a man 'til he full and he still want beef Give me grief, try to tief off my piece Why for you to increase, I must decrease? If I treat you kindly, does it mean that I'm weak? You hear me speak and think I won't take it to the streets I know enough cats that don't turn the other cheek But I try to keep it civilized, like Menelik And other African czars, observing stars with war scars Get yours in this capitalistic system So many caught or got bought you can't list them How you gonna idolize the missing? To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition Even when they comin, gunnin I stand position L's known the mission since conception Let's free the people from deception If you looking for the answers then you gotta ask the questions And when I let go, my voice echoes through the ghetto Sick of men trying to pull strings like Geppetto Why black people always be the ones to settle? March through these streets like Soweto, uhh Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus Jesus and Judus, backstabbers do this [Hook: Lauryn Hill] Forgive them father for they know not what they do Forgive them father for they know not what they do [Verse 3: Lauryn Hill] It took me a little while to discover Wolves in sheep coats who pretend to be lovers Men who lack conscience will even lie to themselves, to themselves A friend once said, and I found to be true That everyday people, they lie to God too So what makes you think, that they won't lie to you? [Hook: Lauryn Hill (Shelly Thunder)] Forgive them father for they know not what they do (Forgive them, forgive them) Forgive them father for they know not what they do (Forgive them, forgive them) [Verse 4: Shelly Thunder] Gwan like dem love you, while dem rip you to shreds Trample pon yuh heart, and leff you fi dead Dem a yuh friend, who you depend pon, from way back when But if you, gi' dem yuh back, then you must meet yuh end Dem nuh know what dem do do Dem nuh know what dem do do Dem nuh know, dem nuh know, dem nuh know, dem nuh know Dem nuh know what dem do do [Outro: Lauryn Hill] (Forgive them father, forgive them father...)