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Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep Prayer for ministers

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 50, under Zechariah 11:17.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 50

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Zechariah 11:17 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep

Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep,

From death and sin set free;

May every under–shepherd keep

His eye, intent on thee!

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Zechariah 11:17. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!” ZECHARIAH 11:17 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ZECHARIAH 11

He, that for these, forbears to feed The souls whom JESUS loves; Whate’er he may profess, or plead, An idol–shepherd proves. STANZA V

Its place in the book

Book II of the hymn book, “On occasional subjects”, holds these hymns in this order: 100 hymns. This is number 50. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 50 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep

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