Verse 1
Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine,
The joy, and desire of my heart;
For closer communion I pine,
I long to reside where Thou art:
Verse 2
The pasture I languish to find,
Where all, who their Shepherd obey,
Are fed, on Thy bosom reclined,
And screened from the heat of the day.
Verse 3
Ah! show me that happiest place,
That place of Thy people’s abode;
Where saints in an ecstasy gaze,
And hang on a crucified God:
Verse 4
Thy love for a sinner declare,
Thy passion and death on the tree;
My spirit to Calvary bear,
To suffer, and triumph with Thee.
Verse 5
‘Tis there with the lambs of Thy flock,
There only I covet to rest:
To lie at the foot of the Rock,
Or rise to be hid in Thy breast;
Verse 6
‘Tis there I would always abide,
And never a moment depart,
Concealed in the cleft of Thy side,
Eternally held in Thine heart.
Verse 7
How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend:
Whose love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end.
Verse 8
Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.
Author: Charles Wesley (first 6 vv), Joseph Hart (Stanzas 7 & 8)