23

1The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3     He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1-3 God, my shepherd!

    I don’t need a thing.

You have bedded me down in lush meadows,

    you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.

Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.



5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.

You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.



6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.

I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.

2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water.

    He soothes my fears;

3 He makes me whole again,

    steering me off worn, hard paths

    to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.

4 Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,


    I am not overcome by fear.


Because You are with me in those dark moments,


    near with Your protection and guidance,


    I am comforted.






5 You spread out a table before me,


    provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;


You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil,


    filling my cup again and again with Your grace.


6 Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me


    where I go, always, everywhere.


I will always be with the Eternal, in Your house forever.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Here's what the translators had to say about this passage...

“Psalm 23 is the best known and most beloved psalm in the collection.

Surprisingly, it casts humanity as sheep—stupid, helpless sheep.

But the long-lasting appeal of Psalm 23 is a direct result of that casting because the imagery is both soothing and accessible.

When he was a boy, King David was a shepherd watching his father’s flocks in the hills around Bethlehem.



In those days, too, it was common to refer to kings in the Near East as shepherds;



but not all shepherd-kings cared for their sheep.



Though David tried to shepherd his people well, he knew the truth:



the Eternal is the true Shepherd.






In John 10:11 Jesus makes a bold claim.



He declares that He is the good shepherd.



Immediately His disciples detected the resonance of Psalm 23 in His words.



Those of us who follow Jesus today come to know Him as that gentle but strong shepherd who guides us through life if we will follow Him.