1 I was a wand'ring sheep,
I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Father's voice,
I would not be controll'd.
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home,
I did not love my Shepherd's voice,
I loved afar to roam.

2 The Shepherd sought his sheep,
The Father sought his child;
They follow'd me o'er vale and hill,
O'er deserts waste and wild;
They found me nigh to death,
Famish'd and faint and lone;
They bound me with the bands of love,
They saved the wandering one.

3 Jesus my Shepherd is;
'Twas he that loved my soul,
'Twas he that wash'd me in his blood,
'Twas he that made me whole;
'Twas he that sought the lost,
That found the wandering sheep,
'Twas he that brought me to the fold,
'Twas he that still doth keep.

4 No more a wandering sheep,
I love to be controll'd,
I love my tender Shepherd's voice
I love the peaceful fold.
No more a wayward child,
I seek no more to roam,
I love my heavenly Father's voice,
I love, I love his home.