The crowd pressed close at Gennesaret to hear the word He taught,

Two boats sat empty near the shore where weary fishermen had wrought.

They washed the nets that told the truth of labor spent in vain,

A whole night's work beneath the stars had brought no silver gain.

Jesus stepped in Simon's boat and asked him off the land,

Then taught the people from the water while the shoreline crowd would stand.

When He had finished speaking, He turned to Simon's need:

Go farther from the shallows now; launch out into the deep.

Launch out into the deep,

Let the nets go down again.

Night may swear the water's empty,

But the word can fill the strain.

Launch out into the deep,

Past the proof your hands can keep.

Simon answered, "At Thy word,"

And the lake gave up the deep.

"Master, we have toiled all night," the tired fisherman replied,

"And taken nothing from these waters though we worked them side to side."

Yet at the word the nets went down, and suddenly they bowed,

A multitude of fish so great the cords began to crowd.

They signaled to their partners; another boat came near,

Both vessels filled until the water climbed with sinking fear.

The men who knew the lake best could not explain the sweep,

The empty night had ended where the word had touched the deep.

Simon fell at Jesus' knees,

Not boasting in the haul.

He saw his own unworthiness

Against the wonder of it all.

James and John stood astonished,

Every practiced instinct gone.

Then fear received a calling:

From this hour, catching men begins.

The boats reached shore still heavy, but the fishermen walked light,

They left the catch, the nets, the trade that ruled their day and night.

Nothing in the miracle became a richer fishing plan,

The abundance only opened up a road for following the Man.

Launch out into the deep,

Let the nets go down again.

Night may swear the water's empty,

But the word can fill the strain.

Launch out into the deep,

Then leave the overflowing shore.

They forsook it all and followed,

For the call was worth far more.