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
Psalm 23 is possibly the most famous psalm. David professes that the Lord is my Shepherd. With this faith, he can rise above any situation, fully confessing that he needs nothing more. Truly, Jesus our Good Shepherd laid down his life for us and took away our sins and gave us eternal life. What more do we need?
David also professes that in his life, the Lord led him to green pastures and still waters. Though we often lose our way, the Lord guides us back to himself and to a place of real peace.
David also suffered under the shadow of death and the threat of his enemies. But the Lord defended him and uplifted him. He rejoiced realizing that it is only going to get better in God’s kingdom, where mercy and goodness will follow him. Likewise, when we trust in God as our Shepherd, he rescues us from death and our enemy Satan. He gives us victory personally and eternally.
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be my Good Shepherd. Help me to confess my trust in him and believe his protection, mercy, and goodness.
One Word: The Lord is my Shepherd
