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