Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of His fold;
Dear is the love that He gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are His “other” lost sheep;
Over the mountains He follows,
Over the waters so deep.

Refrain

Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue He hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the lambs of His fold;
Some from the pastures are straying,
Hungry and helpless and cold.
See, the good Shepherd is seeking,
Seeking the lambs that are lost;
Bringing them in with rejoicing,
Saved at such infinite cost.

Refrain

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the “ninety and nine”;
Dear are the sheep that have wandered,
Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! He is earnestly calling,
Tenderly pleading today;
“Will you not seek for My lost ones,
Off from My shelter astray?”

Refrain

Green are the pastures inviting,
Sweet are the waters and “still”;
Lord, we will answer Thee gladly,
“Yes, blessèd Master, we will!
Make us Thy true under-shepherds,
Give us a love that is deep;
Send us out into the desert,
Seeking Thy wandering sheep.”

Refrain

Father, who hast gathered
This dear child to rest,
Unto Thee we yield him,
Sure Thou knowest best.

Thou, O Lord, who gavest,
Dost Thine own reclaim;
Thou, O Lord, hast taken—
Blessèd still Thy Name!

Thine by right creative,
By redemption Thine,
By regeneration
And the holy sign.

Thou Who didst endow him
With baptismal grace,
Now in love hast brought him
To behold Thy face.

Safe from all earth’s sorrow,
Safe from all its pains,
Now this child of Adam,
Paradise regains:

Safe from all temptation,
Safe from fear of sin,
Through the blood of sprinkling
Holy, bright and clean.

Lay we this dear body
In the earth to sleep,
His sweet soul commending
Unto Thee to keep:

Looking for the dawning
Of that deathless day,
When all earthly shadows
Shall have fled away.

Only grant us, Father,
Courage in our strife,
And with him a portion
In unending life.