There Were Ninety And Nine

1. There were ninety and nine that was safely lay In the shelter of the fold; But none was out on the hills away Far off from the gates of gold Away on the mountains wild and bare Away from the tender Shepherds Care (rep) 2. Lord thou has 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 (rep) 3. But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed, Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through Ere he found his sheep that was lost Out in the desert he heard its cry Sick and helpless and ready to die (rep) 4. Lord, when 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 rend and torn They are pierced to-night 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 brings back his own! (rep)