The words were written by Jane Elizabeth Leeson, and first published in 1842 as a poem with three eight-line verses, entitled "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me".
Today, lines 5-8 of the first verse are usually left out, and the work is presented as a four or five verse hymn, with four lines per verse. The language is only occasionally modernized slightly, with "you" instead of "thou".
With meter 7.7.7.7, tunes it has been set to include:
Keep Thy lamb, in safety keep;
Nothing can Thy power withstand;
None can pluck me from Thy hand.
Loving Saviour, Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live;
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nails' impress.
We would praise Thee every day,
Gladly all Thy will obey,
Like Thy blessed ones above
Happy in Thy precious love.
Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Thy lambs Thy voice to hear;
Suffer not our steps to stray
From the strait and narrow way.
Where Thou leadest we would go,
Walking in Thy steps below,
Till before our Father's throne
We shall know as we are known.
Keep Your lamb, in safety keep;
Nothing can Your power withstand;
None can pluck me from Your hand.
Loving Saviour, You did give
Your own life that we might live;
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nails' impress.
We would praise You every day,
Gladly all Your will obey,
Like Your blessed ones above
Happy in Your precious love.
Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Your lambs Your voice to hear;
Suffer not our steps to stray
From the strait and narrow way.
Where Your lead us we will go,
Walking in Your steps below,
Till before our Father's throne
We shall know as we are known.
Today, lines 5-8 of the first verse are usually left out, and the work is presented as a four or five verse hymn, with four lines per verse. The language is only occasionally modernized slightly, with "you" instead of "thou".
With meter 7.7.7.7, tunes it has been set to include:
- BUCKLAND by L. G. Hayne (1863)
- HAVEN - by Edwin H. Lemare (1865-1934)
- DOEHLER - published before 1892
- LÜBECK - by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (1670-1739)
Downloads
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Singer, unaccompanied:
Choir with organ:
Singer with multi-track accompaniment:
Singer with harp-voiced accompaniment:
Singer, unaccompanied:
Instrumental - organ:
Lyrics
Traditional
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep,Keep Thy lamb, in safety keep;
Nothing can Thy power withstand;
None can pluck me from Thy hand.
Loving Saviour, Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live;
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nails' impress.
We would praise Thee every day,
Gladly all Thy will obey,
Like Thy blessed ones above
Happy in Thy precious love.
Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Thy lambs Thy voice to hear;
Suffer not our steps to stray
From the strait and narrow way.
Where Thou leadest we would go,
Walking in Thy steps below,
Till before our Father's throne
We shall know as we are known.
Modern lyrics
Loving Shepherd of Your sheep,Keep Your lamb, in safety keep;
Nothing can Your power withstand;
None can pluck me from Your hand.
Loving Saviour, You did give
Your own life that we might live;
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nails' impress.
We would praise You every day,
Gladly all Your will obey,
Like Your blessed ones above
Happy in Your precious love.
Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Your lambs Your voice to hear;
Suffer not our steps to stray
From the strait and narrow way.
Where Your lead us we will go,
Walking in Your steps below,
Till before our Father's throne
We shall know as we are known.
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