The Lord is my shepard
PS
23
A reverence and study of Psalm 23. Read Psalm 23 in multiple translations, how the scholars view it. Study the chapter verse by verse, by history, by spirit and intent. Meditate on the words until the living words of God sooths your soul.
King James Version
1 (A Psalm of David.) 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.
English Standard Version
Psalm 23
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
forever.[g]
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
New American Standard Bible
Psalm 23
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside [a]quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the [b]paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
4 Even though I walk through the [c]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no [d]evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You [e]have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 [f]Certainly goodness and [g]faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord[h]forever.
Footnotes
Psalm 23:2 Lit waters of rest
Psalm 23:3 Lit tracks
Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness
Psalm 23:4 Or harm
Psalm 23:5 Or anoint
Psalm 23:6 Or Only
Psalm 23:6 Or mercy
Psalm 23:6 Lit for length of days
New International Version
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Footnotes
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
The Passion Translation
The Good Shepherd
David’s poetic praise to God
23 Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd.[a]
I always have more than enough.[b]
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.[c]
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.[d]
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.[e]
He opens before me the right path
and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness[f]
so that I can bring honor to his name.
4 Even when your path takes me through
the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
Your authority is my strength and my peace.[g]
The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
5 You become my delicious feast
even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;[h]
you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows.[i]
6 So why would I fear the future?
Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence[j] to be forever with you!
Footnotes
23:1 The word most commonly used for “shepherd” is taken from the root word ra‘ah, which is also the Hebrew word for “best friend.” This translation includes both meanings. The unique term for shepherd is ro’eh tzon—“lover of the flock.” This teaches us that a shepherd was not just a responsible overseer, but a caring father figure, tending to his flock out of a deep sense of love. Shepherds were also fierce protectors of their flocks. Jesus is the Fierce Protector of his people.
23:1 Or “I lack nothing.” What a wonderful declaration over your life! To never be in lack, always possessing more than enough. Our God meets our emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.
23:2 Or “in spring [green] meadows.” A good shepherd knows where to pasture his flock. These green meadows would be a resting place, free from all fear. The Greek verb “to love” is agapao, which is a merging of two words and two concepts. Ago means “to lead like a shepherd,” and pao is a verb that means “to rest.” Love is our Shepherd leading us to the place of true rest in his heart.
23:2 The Hebrew word menuhâ means “the waters of a resting place.” See Isa. 11:10.
23:3 Or “he causes my life [or “soul,” Hb. nephesh] to return.” So often life drains out of us through our many activities, but, as David found, God restores our well-being when we pursue what pleases God and when we rest in him.
23:3 Or “circular paths of righteousness.” It is a common trait for sheep on the hillsides of Israel to circle their way up higher. They eventually form a path that keeps leading them higher. This is what the psalm is referring to here. Each step we take following our Shepherd will lead us higher, even though it may seem we are going in circles.
23:4 Or “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
23:5 Or “You anoint my head with oil.” “Oil” or “fragrance” becomes a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
23:5 Or “your cup cheers me like the best wine (LXX),” or “my chalice that inebriates me, how goodly it is (Vulgate).”
23:6 Or “return to Yahweh’s palace.”
1599 Geneva Bible
23 1 Because the Prophet had proved the great mercies of God at divers times, and in sundry manners, he gathereth a certain assurance, fully persuading himself that God will continue the very same goodness towards him forever.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, [a]I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to rest in green pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
3 He [b]restoreth my soul, and leadeth me in the [c]paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I should walk through the valley of the [d]shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou dost prepare a [e]table before me in the sight of mine adversaries: thou dost [f]anoint mine head with oil, and my cup runneth over.
6 Doubtless kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall remain a long season in the [g]house of the Lord.
Footnotes
Psalm 23:1 He hath care over me and ministereth unto me all things.
Psalm 23:3 He comforteth or refresheth me.
Psalm 23:3 Plain, or straight ways.
Psalm 23:4 Though he were in danger of death, as the sheep that wandereth in the dark valley without his shepherd.
Psalm 23:5 Albeit his enemies sought to destroy him, yet God delivereth him, and dealeth most liberally with him in despite of them.
Psalm 23:5 As was the manner of great feasts.
Psalm 23:6 He setteth not his felicity in the pleasures of this world, but in the fear and service of God.
Amplified Bible
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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
Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness.
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.