THE NINETY-AND-NINE
Author(s): Paul Michael
Songbook: Dad's Songs of Love
KeyWords: Praise,

Verse 1
There were ninety-and-nine who safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the fields away,
Far off from those gates of gold.
Away on the mountain wild and bare,
Away from the Shepherd's tender care,
Away from the Shepherd's tender care.

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."
And although the road was rough and steep,
He went to the desert to find His sheep,
He went to the desert to find His sheep.

Verse 3 [not sung on tape by Dad]
But few of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were those 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,
So sick and helpless and ready to die.

Verse 3
"Lord, whence are these blood-drops o'er the way
That sprinkle the mountain's path?"
"They were shed for one, you, who'd gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring you back."
"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They're pierced tonight by many a thorn,
They're pierced tonight by many a thorn.

Verse 4
But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from that rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
"Rejoice! For I have found My sheep!"
And the angels echoed around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His Own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His Own!"

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family