THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.
The Lord is my Shepherd, oh, words full
of peace!
How sweetly they cause all desponding
to cease;
My soul as it hears them, is hushed
into rest,
With calmness, and gladness, and glory
possessed.
The Lord is my Shepherd, the God of all might,
the thought of my weakness no more can
affright;
He hears me, and carries me all the day
long;
I love to be helpless, while He is so
strong.
The Lord is my Shepherd, my
footsteps to guide,
From harm to protect me, for want to
provide;
He is mine just as truly as thought I
alone
were tended and cherished, and kept for
His own.
He “goeth before” me to show me
the way;
I have but to follow His steps day by
day:
“Tis He who goes first, so it is not
for me
To know what the way for to-morrow will
be.
He “makes me lie down” with a
tender restraint,
Which thoughts cannot picture and words
cannot paint;
He gently compels me to cease from all
strife,
To rest on His love, and to live in His
life.
He goeth before who “restoreth
my soul;”
Beside me, “the waters of quietness”
roll;
Rich goodness and mercy are following
nigh,
And all around about me the green pastures
lie.
He “leadeth me” on where the calm
waters flow,
He keeps me “beside” them wherever I
go;
O glorious paradox, wondrous and blest!
He leads me along, yet I’m lying at
rest.
I fear not “the shadow of death” and
the grave,
For He who is “with” me is mighty to
save;
The terrible substance, O Lord, was for
Thee,
Now only the “shadow” can fall upon me.
I have not within the dark vale to
abide,
‘Tis but to walk through to the
opposite side;
And even the shadow no darkness can
wear,
Since Thou, blessed Jesus, will shine on
me there.
Thous spreadst my table in sight of my
foes,
They stand and look on, but they cannot
oppose;
My cup runneth over with joy and with
praise,
Thy goodness and mercy shall crown all
my days.
A king and a priest I am made unto Thee,
Thy house, O my Lord, shall my
dwelling-place be;
There, under Thy shadow, my soul finds
her rest;
And dwelling in Jesus, I know I am
blest.
-Selected.
