Te gen katrevendiznèf mouton yo
Byen gade nan pak la;
Men gen youn ki te pèdi nan mòn yo,
Lwen kay k ap pwoteje l;
Lwen, lwen nan mòn sovaj e san non yo
Byen lwen swen bon Bèje ki renmen li,
Byen lwen swen bon Bèje ki renmen li.
2
Senyè, men ou gen katrevendiznèf,
Sa pa ase pou ou?
Men Bèje a te reponn: mouton pa m
Te egare lwen mwen.
Menm si chemen an di anpil, anpil,
M ale nan dezè pou jwenn mouton mwen,
M ale nan dezè pou jwenn mouton mwen.
3
Pa youn nan rachte yo pa janm konprann
Jan dlo a gen danje,
Nan nuit lè Mèt la t ap travèse l,
Pou jwenn mouton pèdi.
Lwen nan dezè a, li tande l kriye,
Malad, san sekou, li prèt pou mouri,
Malad, san sekou, li prèt pou mouri,
4
Senyè, pouki gen tach san toupatou
Nan tout wout nan mòn yo?
San sa a te vèse pou yon mouton
Ki te pèdi byen lwen.
Senyè pouki ou blese nan men?
Aswè a anpil pikan pike men m!
Aswè a anpil pikan pike men m!
5
Toupatou nan mòn anba gwo loraj,
Epi nan chemen wòch,
Yo tande yon rèl sòt jouk nan syèl la:
Ann rejwi, mwen jwenn li.
Zanj yo repete devan twòn Bondye:
«Ann rejwi Senyè a jwenn mouton an.
Ann rejwi Senyè a jwenn mouton an.»

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the flock,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off in the cold and dark;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
2
“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
3
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night which the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the bleak desert He heard its cry—
All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.
All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.
4
“Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
5
And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”