Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd

Author: Mary B. Wingate
Composer: Varies by tune (see below)

Languages (52)

This song text has been indexed at SingPraises.net in the following languages:


Statistics

Most common tunes for “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd”

This chart shows the tunes that are paired with this text most frequently, in hymnbooks and other collections published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If the text appears with the same tune in multiple editions or translations of the same hymnbook, it is only counted once.


Appearances of “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd” over time

This timeline shows which tunes have been used with this text over time, in hymnbooks and other collections published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Representative lyrics

English (Original Language)

1. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the sheep of his fold; Dear is the love that he gives them, Dearer than silver or gold. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are his “other” lost sheep; Over the mountains he follows, Over the waters so deep.

Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold; Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

2. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the lambs of his fold; Some from the pastures are straying, Hungry and helpless and cold. See, the Good Shepherd is seeking, Seeking the lambs that are lost, Bringing them in with rejoicing, Saved at such infinite cost.

Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold; Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

3. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the “ninety and nine”; Dear are the sheep that have wandered Out in the desert to pine. Hark! he is earnestly calling, Tenderly pleading today: “Will you not seek for my lost ones, Off from my shelter astray?”

Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold; Off to the rescue he hastens, Bringing them back to the fold.

4. Green are the pastures inviting; Sweet are the waters and still. Lord, we will answer thee gladly, “Yes, blessed Master, we will! Make us thy true under-shepherds; Give us a love that is deep. Send us out into the desert, Seeking thy wandering sheep.”

Out in the desert they wander, Hungry and helpless and cold; Off to the rescue we’ll hasten, Bringing them back to the fold.

Compare

Compare different versions of the lyrics side-by-side: English