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