Shepherd of tender youth,
Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways;
Christ our triumphant King,
We come Thy name to sing;
Hither our children bring
To shout Thy praise.

Thou art our holy Lord,
The all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife:
Thou dost Thyself abase,
That from sin’s deep disgrace
Thou mightest save our race,
And give us life.

Thou art the great High Priest;
Thou hast prepared the feast
Of heavenly love;
While in our mortal pain
None calls on Thee in vain;
Help Thou dost not disdain,
Help from above.

Ever be Thou our guide,
Our shepherd and our pride,
Our staff and song:
Jesus, Thou Christ of God,
By Thy perennial word
Lead us where Thou hast trod,
Make our faith strong.

So now, and till we die,
Sound we Thy praises high,
And joyful sing:
Infants, and the glad throng
Who to Thy Church belong,
Unite to swell the song
To Christ our King.

Clement of Alexandria. Translated by H. M. Dexter

Copied from my grandmother’s hymnal, Hymn Book, Methodist Episcopal Church, South: Nashville, TN, 1901, Hymn #699.

May be sung to the tune of “Come, Thou Almighty King.”

Note: The hymns in this hymnal are not titled. So when I do not know the hymn, I make up a title or simply use the first line.

Photo taken in Milton, FL, 2018

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