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Psalm 23[a]

The Lord, Shepherd and Host

A psalm of David.

I

The Lord is my shepherd;[b]
    there is nothing I lack.(A)
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
    to still waters he leads me;
    (B)he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths[c]
    for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,(C)
    I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff comfort me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23 God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).
  2. 23:1 My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).
  3. 23:3 Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd,(A) I lack nothing.(B)
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(C)
    he refreshes my soul.(D)
He guides me(E) along the right paths(F)
    for his name’s sake.(G)
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a](H)
I will fear no evil,(I)
    for you are with me;(J)
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death

11 Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
    in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
    leading the ewes with care.(A)

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11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:(A)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms(B)
and carries them close to his heart;(C)
    he gently leads(D) those that have young.(E)

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To say to the prisoners: Come out!
    To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the roadways they shall find pasture,
    on every barren height shall their pastures be.(A)
10 They shall not hunger or thirst;
    nor shall scorching wind or sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
    and guides them beside springs of water.(B)

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to say to the captives,(A) ‘Come out,’
    and to those in darkness,(B) ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
    and find pasture on every barren hill.(C)
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,(D)
    nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.(E)
He who has compassion(F) on them will guide(G) them
    and lead them beside springs(H) of water.

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11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(A) 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.(B) 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.(C) 16 I have other sheep[a] that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 10:16 Other sheep: the Gentiles, possibly a reference to “God’s dispersed children” of Jn 11:52 destined to be gathered into one, or “apostolic Christians” at odds with the community of the beloved disciple.

11 “I am(A) the good shepherd.(B) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(C) 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.(D) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd;(E) I know my sheep(F) and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father(G)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.(H) 16 I have other sheep(I) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock(J) and one shepherd.(K)

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20 [a]May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,(A) 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:20–21 These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author’s frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned.

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace,(A) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(B) brought back from the dead(C) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(D) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(E) and may he work in us(F) what is pleasing to him,(G) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(H)

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17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them
    and lead them to springs of life-giving water,[a]
    and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 7:17 Life-giving water: literally, “the water of life,” God’s grace, which flows from Christ; cf. Rev 21:6; 22:1, 17; Jn 4:10, 14.

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(A)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[a](B)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[b](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  2. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8