THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Key verse: 1
NIV
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,(A) I lack nothing.(B)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(C)
3 he refreshes my soul.(D)
He guides me(E) along the right paths(F)
for his name’s sake.(G)
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a](H)
I will fear no evil,(I)
for you are with me;(J)
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Footnotes
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
Cross references
- Psalm 23:1 : S Ge 48:15; S Ps 28:9; S Jn 10:11
- Psalm 23:1 : Ps 34:9, 10; 84:11; 107:9; Php 4:19
- Psalm 23:2 : Ps 36:8; 46:4; Rev 7:17
- Psalm 23:3 : S Ps 19:7
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps 25:9; 73:24; Isa 42:16
- Psalm 23:3 : S Ps 5:8
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 106:8; 109:21; 143:11
- Psalm 23:4 : S Job 3:5; Ps 107:14
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps 3:6; 27:1
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps 16:8; Isa 43:2
- Psalm 23:5 : S Job 36:16
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps 45:7; 92:10; Lk 7:46
- Psalm 23:5 : S Ps 16:5
- Psalm 23:6 : S Ne 9:25
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
2 He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
for his (G)name's sake.
4 Even though I (H)walk through the valley of (I)the shadow of death,[c]
I will (J)fear no evil,
for (K)you are with me;
your (L)rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me
in (N)the presence of my enemies;
you (O)anoint my head with oil;
my (P)cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall (Q)dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
(R)forever.[g]
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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
Cross references
- Psalm 23:1 : Ps. 78:52; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:11, 12, 23; John 10:11; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4
- Psalm 23:1 : Ps. 34:9, 10; [Matt. 6:33]
- Psalm 23:2 : Ezek. 34:14; John 10:9
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 19:7
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 5:8; 31:3; 139:10, 24; 143:10; Isa. 40:11; 49:10
- Psalm 23:3 : Prov. 4:11; 8:20
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 109:21; Ezek. 20:9, 14
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps. 138:7
- Psalm 23:4 : See Job 3:5
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps. 3:6; 27:1, 3; 118:6
- Psalm 23:4 : Ex. 3:12; Isa. 43:2
- Psalm 23:4 : Mic. 7:14
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 78:19; [Prov. 9:2; John 6:51]; See 2 Sam. 17:27-29
- Psalm 23:5 : [Ps. 31:19]
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 45:7; 133:2; Luke 7:46; [Ps. 92:10]
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 16:5
- Psalm 23:6 : Ps. 27:4
- Psalm 23:6 : Ps. 21:4
23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd; I shall not (B)want.
2 He makes me lie down in green (C)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He (D)restores my soul.
He (E)leads me in (F)paths of righteousness[b]
for his (G)name's sake.
4 Even though I (H)walk through the valley of (I)the shadow of death,[c]
I will (J)fear no evil,
for (K)you are with me;
your (L)rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me
in (N)the presence of my enemies;
you (O)anoint my head with oil;
my (P)cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall (Q)dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
(R)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
Cross references
- Psalm 23:1 : Ps. 78:52; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:11, 12, 23; John 10:11; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4
- Psalm 23:1 : Ps. 34:9, 10; [Matt. 6:33]
- Psalm 23:2 : Ezek. 34:14; John 10:9
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 19:7
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 5:8; 31:3; 139:10, 24; 143:10; Isa. 40:11; 49:10
- Psalm 23:3 : Prov. 4:11; 8:20
- Psalm 23:3 : Ps. 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 109:21; Ezek. 20:9, 14
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps. 138:7
- Psalm 23:4 : See Job 3:5
- Psalm 23:4 : Ps. 3:6; 27:1, 3; 118:6
- Psalm 23:4 : Ex. 3:12; Isa. 43:2
- Psalm 23:4 : Mic. 7:14
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 78:19; [Prov. 9:2; John 6:51]; See 2 Sam. 17:27-29
- Psalm 23:5 : [Ps. 31:19]
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 45:7; 133:2; Luke 7:46; [Ps. 92:10]
- Psalm 23:5 : Ps. 16:5
- Psalm 23:6 : Ps. 27:4
- Psalm 23:6 : Ps. 21:4
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. I shall not be in want (1-4)
Perhaps David sang this Psalm while he was watching over his sheep out under the sky. It is his love song to God. As he cared for his sheep, leading them to abundant pastures and quiet streams, so God cared for him. The rod and staff were for discipline, guidance, and protection. They bring order and security to life. God chose David to be the shepherd of his people Israel (2Sa 5:2b). Jesus is our Good Shepherd (Jn 1
:1
,11). He satisfies our deepest needs (Jn 6:35). He forgives all our sins and restores our sinsick souls and leads us in paths of righteousness. He helps us live for his glory, and he is with us in the valley of the shadow of death.
2. A table in the presence of my enemies (5-6)
God's enemies are our enemies. But we can sit down at God's table with him even though we are surrounded by enemies. He gives us joy and his anointing for his service. We have no future security problem, for his love will follow us all our days, and we have an eternal home in the house of our Lord forever.
Prayer: Lord, you are my Shepherd; help me to follow you closely, without fear.
One Word: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want
