Psalms 23
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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.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
My Shepherd will supply my need—Jehovah is His name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed, beside the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring spirit back when I forsake His name;
He leads me, for His mercy’s sake, in paths of truth and grace.
When I walk through the shades of death, Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Thy supporting breath drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessing overflows, Thine oil anoints my head.
The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest while others go and come;
No more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home.
—Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Isaac Watts “introduced a new way of rendering the Psalms in verse for church services, proposing that they be adapted for hymns with a specifically Christian perspective.…We still use many of his hymns today. Their extensive use is due to his poetic gifts, but also because he interpreted the Old Testament using knowledge of the New. In this way…the meaning of the Psalms was illuminated by gospel light, making them a joy to sing.”—Wikipedia.
Virginia Davidson
Artist—designing and building stained glass windows. Spokane Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, USA (as of this writing)
