Over the thorn and thistle,
Along the stony way,
From the Shepherd's care to the desert bare,
There wandered a sheep one day;
And a voice fell sadly from far away:
“My sheep, how long wilt thou love to stray? "
Over the thorn and thistle,
Along the stony way,
With feet that bled, the Shepherd sped
To where the wanderer lay;
He had heard it crying from far away:
“Lord, bring me home to Thy flock, I pray! "
“Over the thorn and thistle,
Along the stony way,
I have sought for thee, now trust to Me,
I'll bear thee home to-day.
The wolf and lion flee far away
When on My shoulder My sheep I lay."
Instead of the thorn and thistle,
The myrtle bedecks the way
Where the Shepherd feeds and gently leads
The sheep He found that day;
And He leadeth others from far away
To rest in fields of a cloudless day.