1077--There were ninety and nine that safely

There were ninety and nine that safely

1077

	1.	There were ninety and nine that safely
		lay
		In the shelter of the flock,
		But one was on the hills away,
		Far off in the cold and dark;
		Away on the mountains wild and bare,
		Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
	2.	"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and
		nine;
		Are they not enough for Thee?"
		But the Shepherd made answer: "This
		of Mine
		Has wandered away from Me;
		And although the road be rough and
		steep,
		I go to the desert to find My sheep."
	3.	But none of the ransomed ever knew
		How deep were the waters crossed;
		Nor how dark was the night which the
		Lord passed though
		Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
		Out in the bleak desert He heard its
		cry-
		All bleeding and helpless, and ready to
		die.
	4.	"Lord, whence are those blood-drops
		all the way
		That mark out the mountain's track?"
		"They were shed for one who had gone
		astray
		Ere the Shepherd could bring him
		back."
		"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent
		and torn?"
		"They're pierced tonight by many a
		thorn."
	5.	And all through the mountains,
		thunder-riven,
		And up from the rocky steep,
		There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
		"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"
		And the angels echoed around the
		throne,
		"Rejoice, for the Lord bring back His
		own!"
		(Repeat the last line of each stanza)