Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless

Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless
Thy chosen pilgrim flock
With manna in the wilderness,
With water from the rock.

Hungry and thirsty, faint and weak,
As Thou when here below,
Our souls the joys celestial seek
Which from Thy sorrows flow.

We would not live by bread alone,
But by Thy Word of grace,
In strength of which we travel on
To our abiding place.

Be known to us in breaking bread,
But do not then depart;
Savior, abide with us, and spread
Thy table in our heart.

Lord, sup with us in love divine;
Thy body and Thy blood,
That living bread, that heav’nly wine,
Be our immortal food.

Author: James Montgomery

Year: 1825

This is a well-known communion hymn by the Scottish poet and hymn-writer James Montgomery. It first appeared in his Christian Psalmist (1825) and is sometimes given the alternate first line 'Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless'. No other major attributions exist.