Joyful Lays ‎#179

179. The Good Shepherd

1 The snow was drifting o’er the hill,
Fierce was the wind and loud,
While the good Shepherd forward pressed,
His head in sorrow bowed.
“O Shepherd, rest, nor farther go,
The tempest hath begun,”
“I cannot stay, I must away,
To seek my little one.”

2 “I saw Thy flock at peace within
Thine own well-guarded fold;
O Shepherd, pause, for wild the gale
That rages o’er the world;
“No; one poor lamb hath gone astray,
And soon may be undone;
I cannot stay, I must away,
To seek my little one.”

3 “But since Thy flock are all secure,
Why to the height repair?
If Thou hast ninety-nine at home,
Why for a truant care?”
“Dearer to me than all the rest,
Is that poor struggling son;
I cannot stay, I must away,
To seek my little one.”

4 Even so, I thought, our gracious Lord
Hath in His heart divine
A wealth of love for all His saints—
For all the ninety-nine;
But most He loves, and most He seeks,
His soul by sin undone;
And still He sighs, “I must away,
To seek my little one!”

Text Information

• First Line: The snow was drifting o'er the hill
• Title: The Good Shepherd
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1884

Tune Information

• Name: [The snow was drifting o'er the hill]
• Composer: W. A. Williams