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The vision came unbidden, at an unexpected pass |
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Where the winds of change blew colder |
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Whippin' snow that cut like glass |
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But like an old man in regret |
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For foolish sins and wasted youth |
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The scene that lay before me |
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Had no beauty save its truth |
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For the wind came down the mountains |
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Never slowing, never still |
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And the sheep were scattered shepherdless, |
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Alone across the hills |
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They were prey to every beast that roamed, |
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And entrapped by every curse |
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And they stumbled in their sickness, |
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In their weakness and their thirst |
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Below them in the valley, |
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The polluted waters flowed |
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Where the shepherds that were hirelings |
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Sat and argued what was owed |
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And the ambitious and abusive bragged |
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And they boasted on their might |
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And their profits from the slaughter |
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Of the ones who could not fight |
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And the wind just kept on howling, |
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As I cried, "Oh Lord, how long |
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Will your people be the victims |
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Of the ruthless, proud and strong?" |
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And at once there came an answer |
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In the quiet of my soul |
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"The time has come for judgement |
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And to make the wounded whole" |
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"For my heart is still a shepherd's heart |
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I know each one by name |
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The ragged and the beautiful, |
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The healthy and the lame |
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And I myself will lead them out, |
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And I'll feed them on the best |
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In pastures by still waters |
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In a place of peace and rest |
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O, but woe unto the shepherds |
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Who abuse my sheep and kill |
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With harshness and severity |
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You've bent them to your will |
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And today I am against you |
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As I take them from your hand- |
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When the fire of judgement comes |
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The stubble will not stand!" |
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Then darkness filled the valley |
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And I saw it take up form |
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Screaming winds and fire and lightning |
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More than any earthly storm |
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Where it passed were no survivors |
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For the land was cleansed and bare |
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But the streams flowed clear and purified |
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And the grass grew green and fair |
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I saw a man come walking |
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And his heart glowed like a flame |
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All the sheep began to run to him, |
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And he called each one by name |
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He spoke to them in gentle words |
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And he soothed their fearful minds |
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And he healed the brokenhearted |
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And the crippled, sick and blind |
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Then many others like him, |
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All with hearts that glowed the same |
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That before I hadn't noticed, |
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From the farms and fields they came |
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They weren't famous wise or noble |
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But they spoke a common word |
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A word the flock could recognize |
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And follow when they heard |
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They led them in green pastures, |
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By still waters in the light |
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Standing guard against the wolves |
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And other creatures of the night |
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Going out into the mountains |
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In the darkness and the cold |
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Bringing back the lost and wounded |
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To the safety of the fold |
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And the news went out around the world |
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In every street and town |
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That something wonderful was here, |
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That heaven had come down |
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And millions gave their hearts in trust |
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That long had been betrayed |
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And the bride at last was ready, |
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And the trumpet call was made |
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And the news went out around the world |
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In every street and town |
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That something wonderful was here, |
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That heaven had come down |
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And millions gave their hearts in trust |
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That long had been betrayed |
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And the bride at last was ready, |
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And the trumpet call was made |
