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

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
I have what I need.(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—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[c] the house of the Lord
as long as I live.[d](K)

Footnotes

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