The Poems of John Byrom :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Lord is my Shepherd, my Guardian, my Guide;
Whatsoever I want He will kindly provide;
Ever since I was born, it is He that hath crown'd
The Life that He gave me with Blessings all round.
While yet on the Breast a poor Infant I hung,
Ere Time had unloosen'd the Strings of my Tongue,
He gave me the Help which I could not then ask;
Now therefore to thank Him shall be my Tongue's Task!

II

Thro' my tenderest Years with as tender a Care
My Soul like a Lamb in His Bosom He bare;
To the Brook He would lead me, whene'er I had need,
And point out the Pasture where best I might feed.

No Harm could approach me; for He was my Shield
From the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field;
The Wolf, to devour me, would oftentimes prowl;
But the Lord was my Shepherd, and guarded my Soul.

III

How oft in my Youth have I wander'd astray,
And still He hath brought me back to the right Way!
When, lost in dark Error, no Path I could meet,
His Word like a Lantern hath guided my Feet.
What wond'rous Escapes to His Kindness I owe,
When, rash and unthinking, I sought my own Woe!
My Soul had long since been gone down to the Deep,
If the Lord had not watchèd, when I was asleep.

IV

Whensoe'er, at a Distance, He sees me afraid,
He skips o'er the Mountain, and comes to my Aid;
Then leads me back gently, and bids me abide
In the midst of His Flock, and feed close by His Side.
How safe in His keeping, how happy and free,
Could I always remain where He bids me to be!
Yea, blest are the People, and happy thrice-told,
That obey the Lord's Voice, and abide in His Fold!

V

The Fold it is full, and the Pasture is green;
All is Friendship and Love, and no Enemy seen.
There the Lord dwells amongst us upon His own Hill,
With the Flocks all around Him awaiting His Will;

Himself in the Midst with a provident Eye
Regarding our Wants, and procuring Supply;
An Abundance springs up of each nourishing Bud,
And we gather His Gifts, and are fillèd with Good.

VI

At His Voice or Example we move or we stay;
For the Lord is Himself both our Leader and Way.
The Hills smoke with Incense where'er He hath trod,
And a sacred Perfúme shows the Footsteps of God.
While blest with His Presence, the Valleys beneath
A sweet smelling Savour incessantly breathe;
The Delight is renew'd of each sensible Thing,
And beheld in their Bloom all the Beauties of Spring.

VII

Or, if a quite different Scene He prepare,
And we march thro' the Wilderness, barren and bare,
By His wonderful Works we see plainly enough,
That the Earth is the Lord's, and the Fulness thereof.
If we hunger and thirst, and are ready to faint,
A Relief in due Season prevents our Complaint;
The Rain at His Word brings us Food from the Sky,
And Rocks become Rivers, when we are a-dry.

VIII

From the fruitfullest Hill to the barrenest Rock,
The Lord hath made all for the Sake of His Flock;
And the Flock, in Return, the Lord always confess
In Plenty their Joy, and their Hope in Distress.
He beholds in our Welfare His Glory display'd,
And we find ourselves blest in Obedience repaid;
With a cheerful Regard we attend to His Ways;
Our Attention is Pray'r, and our Cheerfulness Praise.

IX

The Lord is my Shepherd,—what then shall I fear?
What Danger can frighten me, whilst He is near?
Not, when the Time calls me to walk thro' the Vale
Of the Shadow of Death, shall my Heart ever fail;
Tho' afraid, of myself, to pursue the dark Way,
Thy Rod and Thy Staff be my Comfort and Stay;
For I know, by Thy Guidance, when once it is pass'd,
To a Fountain of Life it will bring me at last.

X

The Lord is become my Salvation and Song;
His Blessing shall follow me all my Life long.
Whatsoever Condition he places me in,
I am sure 'tis the best it could ever have been.
For the Lord, He is good, and His Mercies are sure;
He only afflicts us in order to cure.
The Lord will I praise, while I have any Breath,
Be content with my Life, and resign'd at my Death!