[Verse 1] At Shittim they sat at Moab's tables and bowed where Moab bowed. The plague went walking through the tents and took the strong ones down. Phinehas rose and took a spear and went in where the two had gone. The sickness stopped where he stood still. Twenty-four thousand, then none. [Verse 2] We counted every tribe again out on the plains of Moab. I read the names, and not one name was a name the first count had. Only Caleb, only Joshua. The rest were in the sand. A people born along the road stood waiting for the land. [Pre-Chorus] And I'm old, and I've been told I won't cross with them. So every night I pray the same outside the tent again. [Chorus] Give them a shepherd, God, a shepherd for the congregation. Let him go out at the head of the line and bring them home at the evening time. Don't leave them lost on the hills like sheep with nobody watching while they sleep. [Verse 3] Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah came. They stood before the tent of God and asked to keep a name. Our father died and left no son. Must his line be lost and gone? I took it in before the LORD. He said the daughters weren't wrong. [Chorus] Give them a shepherd, God, a shepherd for the congregation. Let him go out at the head of the line and bring them home at the evening time. Don't leave them lost on the hills like sheep with nobody watching while they sleep. [Bridge] Then God said, climb up Abarim and look on what I swore, then you'll be gathered to your people as Aaron was at Hor. I asked Him once to let me cross. He told me, speak no more. So I ask Him for a shepherd to lead them through the door. [Final Chorus] Give them a shepherd, God, a shepherd for the congregation. Let him go out at the head of the line and bring them home at the evening time. Don't leave them lost on the hills like sheep with nobody watching while they sleep. Joshua stood before the priest with all the camp around. [Outro] I laid my hands upon his head and gave him what I had.