Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 23 » Verse 1-6

Psalms 23:1-6 King James Version (KJV)

1 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.


Psalms 23:1-6 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 [[A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 The LORD H3068 is my shepherd; H7462 I shall not want. H2637

2 He maketh me to lie down H7257 in green H1877 pastures: H4999 he leadeth H5095 me beside the still H4496 waters. H4325

3 He restoreth H7725 my soul: H5315 he leadeth H5148 me in the paths H4570 of righteousness H6664 for his name's H8034 sake.

4 Yea, though I walk H3212 through the valley H1516 of the shadow of death, H6757 I will fear H3372 no evil: H7451 for thou art with me; thy rod H7626 and thy staff H4938 they comfort H5162 me.

5 Thou preparest H6186 a table H7979 before H6440 me in the presence of mine enemies: H6887 thou anointest H1878 my head H7218 with oil; H8081 my cup H3563 runneth over. H7310

6 Surely goodness H2896 and mercy H2617 shall follow H7291 me all the days H3117 of my life: H2416 and I will dwell H3427 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 for ever. H753 H3117


Psalms 23:1-6 American Standard (ASV)

1 Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, thou 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 hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. Psalm 24 A Psalm of David.


Psalms 23:1-6 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 A Psalm of David. Jehovah `is' my shepherd, I do not lack,

2 In pastures of tender grass He causeth me to lie down, By quiet waters He doth lead me.

3 My soul He refresheth, He leadeth me in paths of righteousness, For His name's sake,

4 Also -- when I walk in a valley of death-shade, I fear no evil, for Thou `art' with me, Thy rod and Thy staff -- they comfort me.

5 Thou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries, Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full!

6 Only -- goodness and kindness pursue me, All the days of my life, And my dwelling `is' in the house of Jehovah, For a length of days!


Psalms 23:1-6 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 {A Psalm of David.} Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in 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 hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of the days.


Psalms 23:1-6 World English Bible (WEB)

1 > Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Even 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.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in Yahweh's house forever.


Psalms 23:1-6 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 <A Psalm. Of David.> The Lord takes care of me as his sheep; I will not be without any good thing.

2 He makes a resting-place for me in the green fields: he is my guide by the quiet waters.

3 He gives new life to my soul: he is my guide in the ways of righteousness because of his name.

4 Yes, though I go through the valley of deep shade, I will have no fear of evil; for you are with me, your rod and your support are my comfort.

5 You make ready a table for me in front of my haters: you put oil on my head; my cup is overflowing.

6 Truly, blessing and mercy will be with me all the days of my life; and I will have a place in the house of the Lord all my days.

Commentary on Psalms 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 23

Ps 23:1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor.

1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Ge 48:15; Ps 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.

2. green pastures—or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest.

the still waters—are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.

3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it (Ps 19:7), or relieve it (La 1:11, 19).

paths of righteousness—those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him.

for his name's sake—or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare.

4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near.

the valley of the shadow of death—is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest.

thy rod and thy staff—are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them he guides his sheep.

5, 6. Another figure expresses God's provided care.

a table—or, "food," anointing

oil—the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing

cup—which represents abundance—are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual.