The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
    He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
    He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
    for his (G)name's sake.

Even though I (H)walk through the valley of (I)the shadow of death,[c]
    I will (J)fear no evil,
for (K)you are with me;
    your (L)rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You (M)prepare a table before me
    in (N)the presence of my enemies;
you (O)anoint my head with oil;
    my (P)cup overflows.
Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall (Q)dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    (R)forever.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
  2. Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
  3. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
  4. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
  5. Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
  6. Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
  7. Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A Davidic psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
there is nothing I lack.(B)
He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
He leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths[a]
for His name’s sake.(E)
Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;(F)
Your rod and Your staff[c]—they comfort me.(G)

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;(H)
my cup overflows.(I)
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,(J)
and I will dwell in[d] the house of the Lord
as long as I live.[e](K)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:3 Or me in paths of righteousness
  2. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
  3. Psalm 23:4 A shepherd’s equipment
  4. Psalm 23:6 LXX, Sym, Syr, Tg, Vg, Jer; MT reads will return to
  5. Psalm 23:6 Lit Lord for length of days; traditionally Lord forever

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.