Advent Hymnals

061. THE NINETY AND NINE

Christ in Song,

1.
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

2.
"Lord, thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer:  "One of mine
Has wander'd away from me,
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."

3.
But none of the ransom'd ever knew
How deep were the waters cross'd;
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord pass'd thro'
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.

4.
"Lord, whence are these blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountains' track?"
They were shed for one who has gone astray,
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, why are thy hands so rent and torn?"
They are pierc'd to-night by many a thorn."
"They are pierc'd to-night by many a thorn."

5.
But all through the mountains, thunder riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There rose a cry to the gate of heaven,
"Rejoice, I have found my sheep!"
And the angels sang around the throne,
"Rejoice for the Lord brings back His own!"

• -
  Title	The Ninety and Nine
  Key	A♭ Major
  Titles	undefined
  First Line	There were ninety and nine that safely lay
  Author	Elizabeth C. Clephane
  Year	1908
  Composer	Ira D. Sankey
  Hymnal	-
  Tune	There were ninety and nine that safely lay
  Metrical pattern
  # Stanzas
  Chorus
  Chorus Type
  Subjects	Invitation and Repentance; Special Selections: Solos
  Texts	undefined
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  Scripture Song