Scripture Verse

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Introduction

portrait
Henry Carey (1687–1743)

Words: Jo­seph Ad­di­son, in The Spec­ta­tor, Lon­don, is­sue 441, July 26, 1712.

Music: Car­ey’s Sur­rey Hen­ry Car­ey, 1723. Har­mo­ny from The Eng­lish Hym­nal, 1906, num­ber 491 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Belville in Car­mi­na Sac­ra, by Lo­well Ma­son (Bos­ton Mas­sa­chu­setts: John H. Wil­kins & Ri­chard B. Car­ter, 1844), page 52 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Joseph Addison (1672–1719)

Lyrics

The Lord my pasture shall prepare
And feed me with a shepherd’s care;
His presence shall my wants supply
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noonday walks He shall attend
And all my midnight hours defend.

When in the sultry glebe I faint
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps He leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.

Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds, I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.