The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Words: Henry W. Baker, in Hymns Ancient and Modern (London: 1868). This hymn was sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in Westminster Abbey, London, September 6, 1997. Music: St. Columba, ancient Irish melody
Barbara from Stray Thoughts sent me the lyrics to this hymn when a couple blogger comments mentioned Verdant on my Outdoor Post last week and I talked about learning a new word. She had recalled that this was the hymn where she remembered the word verdant from. Thanks Barbara.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Another beautiful hymn that I have never heard. Have you ever read the book, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23”? It’s one of my favorites and this hymn reminds me of it. I think I need to take that book off the shelf and re-read it!
Have a lovely Sunday Ellen B.
xoxo Cori G.
There’s really nothing like a good hymn for depth and richness of language. I love this one and will look for the music.
Jody
“Whose goodness faileth never” Amen! I love this one, Ellen!
These words are wonderful. “And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never, Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever”
This is a new one for me. Thank you. I hope that you had a Happy Sunday.
I’m glad you enjoyed this Ellen! I love this hymn, though I haven’t heard it sung in a while, and don’t usually hear all the verses. I think the third stanza is my favorite, though all of it is good.
I absolutely love this hymn, Ellen! Thank you for posting it.
Ellen,
I love this hymn. While on a road trip a few years back, our family listened to this on Michael Card’s cd every morning. We were reading aloud “A Shepherd Looks At the 23rd Psalm” as a morning devotional and then trying to learn this hymn.
Joyce
We sing this hymn at my school during mass. It was so beautofu; because it was sung to its full potential as a round