He Leadeth Me Beside the Still Waters

By the still wa­ters lead me

for I thirst

And my o’er­heat­ed brow I fain would lave;

And oh! per­mit me

ho­ly Shep­herd

first

To see Thy face re­flect­ed from the wave

Beside mine own

that so my soul may know

These are the sourc­es whence all heal­ings flow.

By the still wa­ters lead me! I am faint

With my long jour­ney through the de­sert way.

And my white robes have caught an earth­ly taint

I fain would hide from the re­veal­ing day;

But Thou

O Sav­ior! canst these stains ef­face

In those pure wa­ters where no taint hath place!

By the still wa­ters lead me! I have trod

A way both dark and rough

with sor­rows strewn;

And to my spir­it’s depths have felt the rod.

Nor failed to bless the hand no more un­known;

But now I faint and tire

and long to be

By the still wa­ters

and at rest with Thee.

By the still wa­ters! But God’s will be done!

I would not cast the bur­den He has laid

On heart and flesh

lest

ere my race be run

I might for­get where­on my hope is stayed.

Dear Sav­ior

guide

con­trol me

till I stand

By those still wa­ters in Thine own bright land.