Wilt Thou not, my Shepherd true,

Spare Thy sheep, in mercy spare me?

Wilt Thou not, as shepherds do,

In Thine arms rejoicing bear me;

Bear me where all troubles cease,

Home to folds of joy and peace?

See, on earth’s wide desert way

How my truant steps mislead me;

Bring me back, no more to stray,

In Thine own green pastures feed me.

Gather me within the fold,

Where Thy lambs Thy light behold.

With Thy flock I long to be,

With the flock to whom ’tis given

Safe to feed, and, praising Thee,

Roam the happy plains of heaven:

Free from fear of sinful stain,

They can never stray again.

Lord! I here am fore beset,

Fears at every step confound me;

Lo! my foes have spread their net,

And with craft and might surround me:

Such their snares on every side,

Safe Thy sheep can ne’er abide.

Jesus, Lord! my Shepherd true,

Oh from wolves Thy sheep deliver;

Help, as shepherds wont to do,

From their jaws preserve me ever:

Bid Thy trembling wanderer come

To his everlasting home.