The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is (A)my shepherd;
(B)I shall not [a]want.
(C)He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
(D)He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
He restores my soul;
(E)He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of (F)the shadow of death,
(G)I will fear no evil;
(H)For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You (I)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You (J)anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will [d]dwell in the house of the Lord
[e]Forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:1 lack
  2. Psalm 23:2 Lit. pastures of tender grass
  3. Psalm 23:2 Lit. waters of rest
  4. Psalm 23:6 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT return
  5. Psalm 23:6 Or To the end of my days, lit. For length of days

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],(A)
I shall not want.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.(B)

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.


Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with [b]oil;
My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness.
  2. Psalm 23:5 In ancient times it was customary in hot climates for a host to provide his guest with olive oil to put on his head. The Lord blesses and anoints His believers with the Holy Spirit, whom oil symbolizes, to prepare them for His service.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.