Lyrics
You Have the Bread
Feed the hungry with what God has given you
Verse
When Esau came home near to die,
his brother's pottage caught his eye;
the hunter's hands had found no prey —
and Jacob fed him bread that day.
Then Joseph's brothers sold their own;
they sat and ate; he cried alone;
but when the famine wore them thin,
he fed the men who cast him in.
Chorus
Let mercy speak above the past,
the famine holds your brother fast;
He set the store within your keep —
you have the bread: now feed His sheep.
Verse
A city starved behind the wall;
four lepers dying risked it all.
They found the foe's abandoned store,
and through their word came bread once more.
A lad had loaves; but what are they
among so many? doubters say.
From one boy's hands the thousands fed;
twelve baskets left for twelve tribes' bread.
Chorus
Let mercy speak above the past,
the famine holds your brother fast;
He set the store within your keep —
you have the bread: now feed His sheep.
Verse
He laid the coals upon the sand;
Come dine — the bread within His hand.
He thrice asked Peter, Lovest me?
and thrice My lambs and sheep — all three.
Now pass the loaf — he holds the keys
to feed the flock and not take ease.
For he that loves the Lord will feed
the brother in his time of need.
Chorus
Let mercy speak above the past,
the famine holds your brother fast;
He set the store within your keep —
you have the bread: now feed His sheep.
Bridge
A day will come when bread is dear,
and hungry brethren gather near;
then fill their hands with daily bread,
and with the word that Christ hath said.
Chorus
Let mercy speak above the past,
the famine holds your brother fast;
He set the store within your keep —
you have the bread: now feed His sheep.
Music and lyrics: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal · Sound recording: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal.