there were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold but one was out on the hills away far off from the gates of gold away on the mountains wild and bare away from the tender shepherd s care away from the tender shepherd s care oh thou hast here thy ninety and nine are they not enough for thee but our shepherd made answer this of mine has wandered away from me and though the road be rough and steep i go to the desert to find my sheep i go to the desert to find me sheep none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed nor how dark was the night that the lord passed though ere he found his sheep that was lost out in the desert he heard its cry sick and helpless and ready to die sick and helpless and ready to die but all though the mountains thunder riven and up from the rocky steep there rose a glad cry at the gates of heav n rejoice i have found my sheep and the angels echoed around the throne rejoice for the lord brings back his own rejoice for the lord brings back his own 