The Ninety and Nine

Verse 1
There were nine­ty and nine that safe­ly lay
In the shel­ter of the fold. (Matt. 18:12, Luke 15:4, John 10:16)
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold. (Matt. 18:12, Luke 15:4, Ezek. 34:6)
Away on the mount­ains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shep­herd’s care.
Away from the ten­der Shep­herd’s care. (Isa. 40:11, John 10:14)

Verse 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; (Isa. 53:6, I Pet. 2:25, Ezek. 34:6)
And al­though the road be rough and steep,
I go to the de­sert to find My sheep,
I go to the de­sert to find My sheep. (Matt. 18:12, Luke 15:4, Ezek. 34:11-12)

Verse 3
But none of the ran­somed ev­er knew
How deep were the wa­ters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost. (Luke 15:5)
Out in the de­sert He heard its cry,
Sick and help­less and rea­dy to die;
Sick and help­less and rea­dy to die. (Rom. 5:6, Ps. 107:4-6)

Verse 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. (I Pet. 2:24-25)
Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn? (Zech. 12:10, Zech. 13:6, Ps. 22:16)
They are pierced to­night by ma­ny a thorn;
They are pierced to­night by ma­ny a thorn.

Verse 5
And all through the mount­ains, thun­der riv­en
And up from the roc­ky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heav­en, (Gen. 28:17)
Rejoice! I have found My sheep! (Matt. 18:13, Luke 15:6)
And the an­gels ech­oed around the throne,
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own! (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10)