Scripture Verse

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1

Introduction

Words: Ma­ry A. Whi­tak­er, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 6, ed­it­ed by Ira D. San­key, James Mc­Gra­na­han & George C. Steb­bins (New York & Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church and Big­low & Main, 1891), num­ber 70.

Music: George F. Root (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Whi­tak­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George F. Root (1820–1895)

Lyrics

In the heav’n­ly pas­tures fair,
’Neath the ten­der Shep­herd’s care,
Let us rest be­side the liv­ing streams to­day;
Calmly there in peace re­cline,
Drinking in the truth di­vine,
As His lov­ing call we now with joy ob­ey.

Refrain

Glorious stream of life eter­nal,
Beauteous fields of liv­ing green,
Tho’ re­vealed with­in the word
Of our shep­herd and our Lord,
By the pure in heart alone can they be seen.

Far from all the noise and strife
That dis­turb our dai­ly life,
Let us pause awhile in si­lence and ad­ore;
Then the sound of His dear voice
Will our wait­ing souls re­joice,
As He nameth us His own for­ev­er­more.

Refrain

O how good and true and kind,
Seeking His stray sheep to find,
If they wan­der in­to dan­ger from His side;
Ever close­ly may we tread
Where His ho­ly feet have led,
So at last with Him in Heav’n we may abide.

Refrain