Psalm 23-25

Easy-to-Read Version

A song of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd.
    I will always have everything I need.^[a]
²He gives me green pastures to lie in.
    He leads me by calm pools of water.
³He restores my strength.
    He leads me on right paths^[b] to show that he is good.
⁴Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave,^[c]
    I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me.
    Your rod and staff^[d] comfort me.
⁵You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies.
    You welcomed me as an honored guest.^[e]
    My cup is full and spilling over.
⁶Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life,
    and I will live in the Lord’s house^[f] a long, long time.^[g]

A song of David.

24 The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord.
The world and all its people belong to him.
²He built the earth on the water.
He built it over the rivers.

³Who can go up on the Lord’s mountain^[h]?
    Who can stand in his holy Temple?
⁴Only those who have not done evil,
    who have pure hearts,
who have not used my name^[i] to hide their lies,
    and who have not made false promises.

⁵Good people ask the Lord to bless others.
They ask God, their Savior, to do good things.
⁶They try to follow God.
They go to the God of Jacob for help. Selah

⁷Gates, proudly lift your heads!
    Open, ancient doors,
    and the glorious King will come in.
⁸Who is the glorious King?
    He is the Lord, the powerful soldier.
    He is the Lord, the war hero.

⁹Gates, proudly lift your heads!
    Open, ancient doors,
    and the glorious King will come in.
¹⁰Who is the glorious King?
    The Lord All-Powerful is the glorious King. Selah

^[j] A song of David.

25 Lord, I put my life in your hands.^[k]
²    I trust in you, my God,
and I will not be disappointed.
    My enemies will not laugh at me.
³No one who trusts in you will be disappointed.
    But disappointment will come to those who try to deceive others.
    They will get nothing.

⁴Lord, help me learn your ways.
    Show me how you want me to live.
⁵Guide me and teach me your truths.
    You are my God, my Savior.
    You are the one I have been waiting for.
⁶Remember to be kind to me, Lord.
    Show me the tender love that you have always had.
⁷Don’t remember the sinful things I did when I was young.
    Because you are good, Lord, remember me with your faithful love.

⁸The Lord is good and does what is right.
    He shows sinners the right way to live.
⁹He teaches his ways to humble people.
    He leads them with fairness.
¹⁰The Lord is kind and true to those
    who obey what he said in his agreement.

¹¹Lord, I have done many wrong things.
But I ask you to forgive them all to show your goodness.

¹²When people choose to follow the Lord,
    he shows them the best way to live.
¹³They will enjoy good things,
    and their children will get the land God promised.
¹⁴The Lord tells his secrets to his followers.
    He teaches them about his agreement.
¹⁵I always look to the Lord for help.
    Only he can free me from my troubles.^[l]

¹⁶I am hurt and lonely.
    Turn to me, and show me mercy.
¹⁷Free me from my troubles.
    Help me solve my problems.
¹⁸Look at my trials and troubles.
    Forgive me for all the sins I have done.
¹⁹Look at all the enemies I have.
    They hate me and want to hurt me.
²⁰Protect me! Save me from them!
    I come to you for protection, so don’t let me be disappointed.
²¹You are good and do what is right.
    I trust you to protect me.
²²God, save the people of Israel
    from all their enemies.

Footnotes

Psalm 23:1 I will … need Literally, “I will lack nothing.”
Psalm 23:3 right paths Or “paths of goodness.”
Psalm 23:4 valley … grave Or “death’s dark valley” or “a very dark valley.”
Psalm 23:4 rod and staff The club and walking stick a shepherd uses to protect and guide his sheep.
Psalm 23:5 You welcomed … guest Literally, “You anointed my head with oil.”
Psalm 23:6 house Or “Temple.” See “Temple” in the Word List.
Psalm 23:6 I … long time Or “I will return again and again to the Lord’s Temple for as long as I live.”
Psalm 24:3 Lord’s mountain Mount Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where the Temple was built.
Psalm 24:4 my name Literally, “my soul.”
Psalm 25:1 Psalm 25 In Hebrew, each verse in this psalm begins with the next letter of the alphabet.
Psalm 25:1 I put … hands Literally, “I lift my soul to you.”
Psalm 25:15 Only … troubles Literally, “For he will remove my feet from the net.”