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Psalm 23-26
New International Version
Psalm 23-26
New International Version
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,(A) I lack nothing.(B)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(C)
3 he refreshes my soul.(D)
He guides me(E) along the right paths(F)
for his name’s sake.(G)
4 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.
5 You prepare a table(K) before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;(L)
my cup(M) overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love(N) will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 24
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the Lord’s,(O) and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;(P)
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.(Q)
3 Who may ascend the mountain(R) of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?(S)
4 The one who has clean hands(T) and a pure heart,(U)
who does not trust in an idol(V)
or swear by a false god.[b]
5 They will receive blessing(W) from the Lord
and vindication(X) from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,(Y) God of Jacob.[c][d]
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;(Z)
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King(AA) of glory(AB) may come in.(AC)
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,(AD)
the Lord mighty in battle.(AE)
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty(AF)—
he is the King of glory.
Psalm 25[e]
Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.(AG)
2 I trust in you;(AH)
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,(AI)
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous(AJ) without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.(AK)
5 Guide me in your truth(AL) and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,(AM)
and my hope is in you(AN) all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(AO)
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth(AP)
and my rebellious ways;(AQ)
according to your love(AR) remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.(AS)
8 Good and upright(AT) is the Lord;
therefore he instructs(AU) sinners in his ways.
9 He guides(AV) the humble in what is right
and teaches them(AW) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(AX)
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(AY)
11 For the sake of your name,(AZ) Lord,
forgive(BA) my iniquity,(BB) though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(BC)
He will instruct them in the ways(BD) they should choose.[f]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(BE)
and their descendants will inherit the land.(BF)
14 The Lord confides(BG) in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known(BH) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(BI)
for only he will release my feet from the snare.(BJ)
16 Turn to me(BK) and be gracious to me,(BL)
for I am lonely(BM) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(BN) of my heart
and free me from my anguish.(BO)
18 Look on my affliction(BP) and my distress(BQ)
and take away all my sins.(BR)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(BS)
and how fiercely they hate me!(BT)
20 Guard my life(BU) and rescue me;(BV)
do not let me be put to shame,(BW)
for I take refuge(BX) in you.
21 May integrity(BY) and uprightness(BZ) protect me,
because my hope, Lord,[g] is in you.(CA)
22 Deliver Israel,(CB) O God,
from all their troubles!
Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate me,(CC) Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;(CD)
I have trusted(CE) in the Lord
and have not faltered.(CF)
2 Test me,(CG) Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;(CH)
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(CI)
and have lived(CJ) in reliance on your faithfulness.(CK)
4 I do not sit(CL) with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.(CM)
5 I abhor(CN) the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,(CO)
and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise(CP)
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(CQ)
8 Lord, I love(CR) the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.(CS)
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(CT)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(CU)
whose right hands are full of bribes.(CV)
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me(CW) and be merciful to me.
Footnotes
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
- Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
- Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
- Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
- Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.
Psalm 23-26
New King James Version
Psalm 23-26
New King James Version
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is (A)my shepherd;
(B)I shall not [a]want.
2 (C)He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
(D)He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
(E)He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You (I)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You (J)anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 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.
The King of Glory and His Kingdom
A Psalm of David.
24 The (K)earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has (L)founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the [f]waters.
3 (M)Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has (N)clean hands and (O)a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor (P)sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who (Q)seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
7 (R)Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
(S)And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in (T)battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness
A Psalm of David.
25 To (U)You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I (V)trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
(W)Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who [g]waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 (X)Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, (Y)Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember (Z)the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
(AA)According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 (AB)For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord?
(AC)Him shall [h]He teach in the way He chooses.
13 (AD)He himself shall dwell in [i]prosperity,
And (AE)his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 (AF)The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
15 (AG)My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall [j]pluck my feet out of the net.
16 (AH)Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am [k]desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
18 (AI)Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with [l]cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
22 (AJ)Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!
A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption
A Psalm of David.
26 Vindicate (AK)me, O Lord,
For I have (AL)walked in my integrity.
(AM)I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
2 (AN)Examine me, O Lord, and [m]prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And (AO)I have walked in Your truth.
4 I have not (AP)sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I have (AQ)hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 Lord, (AR)I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place [n]where Your glory dwells.
9 (AS)Do[o] not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (AT)bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 (AU)My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.
Footnotes
- Psalm 23:1 lack
- Psalm 23:2 Lit. pastures of tender grass
- Psalm 23:2 Lit. waters of rest
- Psalm 23:6 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT return
- Psalm 23:6 Or To the end of my days, lit. For length of days
- Psalm 24:2 Lit. rivers
- Psalm 25:3 Waits for You in faith
- Psalm 25:12 Or he
- Psalm 25:13 Lit. goodness
- Psalm 25:15 Lit. bring out
- Psalm 25:16 lonely
- Psalm 25:19 violent hatred
- Psalm 26:2 test me
- Psalm 26:8 Lit. of the tabernacle of Your glory
- Psalm 26:9 Do not take away
Psalm 23-26
King James Version
Psalm 23-26
King James Version
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 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.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 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.
24 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
25 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
26 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
Psalm 23-26
English Standard Version
Psalm 23-26
English Standard Version
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
2 He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
for his (G)name's sake.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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]
The King of Glory
A Psalm of David.
24 (S)The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,[h]
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has (T)founded it upon (U)the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
3 (V)Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his (W)holy place?
4 (X)He who has (Y)clean hands and (Z)a pure heart,
who does not (AA)lift up his soul to (AB)what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive (AC)blessing from the Lord
and (AD)righteousness from (AE)the God of his salvation.
6 Such is (AF)the generation of those who seek him,
who (AG)seek the face of the God of Jacob.[i] Selah
7 (AH)Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that (AI)the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, (AJ)mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
(AK)The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah
Teach Me Your Paths
[j] Of David.
25 To you, O Lord, I (AL)lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I (AM)trust;
(AN)let me not be put to shame;
(AO)let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, (AP)none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are (AQ)wantonly (AR)treacherous.
4 (AS)Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your (AT)truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your (AU)mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
(AV)for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not (AW)the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your (AX)steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 (AY)Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he (AZ)instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are (BA)steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your (BB)name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is (BC)great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him (BD)will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall (BE)abide in well-being,
and his (BF)offspring (BG)shall inherit the land.
14 (BH)The friendship[k] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My (BI)eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will (BJ)pluck my feet out of the net.
16 (BK)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 (BL)Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
(BM)Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22 (BN)Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
I Will Bless the Lord
Of David.
26 (BO)Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have (BP)walked in my integrity,
and I have (BQ)trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 (BR)Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and (BS)my mind.[l]
3 For your (BT)steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I (BU)walk in your (BV)faithfulness.
4 I do not (BW)sit with men of (BX)falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I (BY)hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I (BZ)wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your (CA)wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I (CB)love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 (CC)Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of (CD)bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on (CE)level ground;
in (CF)the great assembly I will bless the Lord.
Footnotes
- Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
- Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
- Psalm 23:6 Or Only
- Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
- Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
- Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
- Psalm 24:1 Or and all that fills it
- Psalm 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel
- Psalm 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.