| Psalm 23 | |
|---|---|
| "The Lord is my shepherd" | |
 Illustration fromThe Sunday at Home, 1880 | |
| Other name | "Dominus reget me" |
| Written | around 1000 BC |
| Text | attributed toKing David |
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
| Psalm 23 | |
|---|---|
← Psalm 22 Psalm 24 → | |
| Book | Book of Psalms |
| Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Category | Sifrei Emet |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of theBook of Psalms, beginning in English in theKing James Version: "The Lord is myshepherd". In Latin, it is known by theincipit, "Dominus regit me".[1][2][3][4] The Book of Psalms is part of thethird section of theHebrew Bible,[5] and a book of theChristianOld Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagint and LatinVulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 22.
Like many psalms, Psalm 23 is used in bothJewish andChristianliturgies. It has often been set to music.
The theme of God as a shepherd was common inancient Israel andMesopotamia. For example,King Hammurabi, in the conclusion tohis famous legal code, wrote: "I am the shepherd who brings well-being and abundant prosperity; my rule is just.... so that the strong might not oppress the weak, and that even the orphan and the widow might be treated with justice."[6] This imagery and language were well known to the community that created the Psalm,[clarification needed] and it was easily imported into its worship.[citation needed]
Psalm 23 portrays God as a goodshepherd, feeding (verse 1) and leading (verse 3) hisherd. The "rod and staff" (verse 4) are also the implements of a shepherd. Some commentators see the shepherd imagery pervading the entire psalm. It is known that the shepherd is to know each sheep by name,[citation needed] thus when God is given theanalogy of a shepherd, he is not only a protector but also the caretaker. God, as the caretaker, leads the sheep to green pastures (verse 2) and still waters (verse 2) because he knows that each of his sheep must be personally led to be fed. Thus, without its shepherd, the sheep would die either by a predator (like thewolf) or of starvation, since sheep are known for their helplessness without their shepherd.
J. Douglas MacMillan argues that verse 5 ("Thou preparest a table before me") refers to the "old oriental shepherding practice" of using little raised tables to feed sheep.[7]: 78 Similarly, "Thou anointest my head with oil" may refer to an ancient form ofbackliner – the oil is poured on wounds, and repels flies. MacMillan also notes that verse 6 ("Goodness and mercy shall follow me") reminds him of two loyalsheepdogs coming behind the flock.[7]: 82
The header or first verse of the Psalm ascribes authorship toKing David, said in theHebrew Scriptures to have been a field shepherd himself as a youth. However, somescholars do not agree with this attributed authorship and hypothesize various other possibilities, commonly dating it to thepost-exilic period.[8]
Taken together, Psalms22, 23, and24 are seen by some as shepherd psalms, where the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep as a suffering servant and king.[9]
The following table shows the Hebrew text[10][11] of Psalm 23 with vowels, alongside theKoine Greek text in theSeptuagint[12] and the English translation from theKing James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and theMasoretic Text come from different textual traditions.[note 1] In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 22.
| # | Hebrew | English (Early Modern) | Greek (Koine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד יְהֹוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ | A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ. - ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ποιμαίνει με καὶ οὐδέν με ὑστερήσει. |
| 2 | בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ | He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. | εἰς τόπον χλόης, ἐκεῖ με κατεσκήνωσεν, ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀναπαύσεως ἐξέθρεψέ με, |
| 3 | נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ | He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. | τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐπέστρεψεν. ὡδήγησέ με ἐπὶ τρίβους δικαιοσύνης ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ. |
| 4 | גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ | 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. | ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ πορευθῶ ἐν μέσῳ σκιᾶς θανάτου, οὐ φοβηθήσομαι κακά, ὅτι σὺ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εἶ· ἡ ῥάβδος σου καὶ ἡ βακτηρία σου, αὗταί με παρεκάλεσαν. |
| 5 | תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֥נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ | Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. | ἡτοίμασας ἐνώπιόν μου τράπεζαν, ἐξεναντίας τῶν θλιβόντων με· ἐλίπανας ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὴν κεφαλήν μου, καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον με ὡσεὶ κράτιστον. |
| 6 | אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ | Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. | καὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου καταδιώξει με πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς μου, καὶ τὸ κατοικεῖν με ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου εἰς μακρότητα ἡμερῶν. |
There are frequently multiple renditions of the Psalms in the same language: for example renditions optimized for singing or chanting and renditions intended for study or exposition.
For example, there are three Latin versions of the Psalms associated with Jerome: thejuxta Hebraicum derived from the Hebrew, theGallican psalter, and theRoman Psalter. InCarolingian Europe, theRoman Psalter gave way to the Gallican in the liturgy (e.g. in the standard EnglishUse of Sarum liturgies), but was still used in theDivine Office, while the Vulgate continued to use juxta Hebraicum until 1592, when it was standardized to use the Gallican version for public exegesis.
Similarly, in English the firstBook of Common Prayer adoptedMiles Coverdale's prose rendition, while theKing James Version has its own translation. But Coverdale also published versions of Luther's translation, psalter versions more aligned with the Vulgate (for following Latin readings), and a translation of a French paraphrase. Coverdale's prose version was the basis of the popular metricalWhole Book of Psalms.[13]
| # | Old English[14] (Late West Anglo-Saxon c.1050) | Middle English (Wycliff Early Version c.1382) | Early Modern English (Coverdale 1535) | Church Modern English (Challenor Douey Rheims 1752) | Church Late Modern English (Knox 1949) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Dauid sanᵹ þysne twa and twenteoᵹeþan sealm...) Drihten me ræt: ne byð me nanes ᵹodes wan. | The salm, ether the song of Dauid. The Lord governeth me, and no thing schal faile to me; | The LORDE is my shepherde, I can wante nothinge. | A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. | (A psalm. Of David.) The Lord is my shepherd; how can I lack anything? |
| 2 | And he me ᵹeset on swyðe ᵹood feohland, and fedde me be wætera staðum, | in the place of pasture there he hath set me. He nurschide me on the watir of refreischyng; | He fedeth me in a grene pasture, ad ledeth me to a fresh water. | He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: | He gives me a resting-place where there is green pasture, leads me out to the cool water's brink, refreshed and content. |
| 3 | and min mod ᵹehwyrfde of unrotnesse on ᵹefean. He me ᵹelædde ofer þa weᵹas rihtwisnesse for his naman. | he convertide my soule. He ledde me forth on the pathis of ritfulneysse; for his name. | He quickeneth my soule, & bringeth me forth in the waye of rightuousnes for his names sake. | He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake. | As in honour pledged, by sure paths he leads me; |
| 4 | Þeah ic nu ᵹanᵹe on midde þa sceade deaðes, ne ondræde ic me nan yfel, for þam þu byst mid me, Drihten. Þin ᵹyrd and þin stæf me afrefredon (þæt is, þin þreaunᵹ, and eft þin frefrunᵹ). | For whi thouȝ Y schal go in the myddis of schadewe of deeth; Y schal not drede yvels, for thou art with me. Thi ȝerde and thi staf; tho han coumfortid me. | Though I shulde walke now in the valley of the shadowe of death, yet I feare no evell, for thou art with me: thy staffe & thy shepehoke coforte me. | For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. | dark be the valley about my path, hurt I fear none while he is with me; thy rod, thy crook are my comfort. |
| 5 | Þu ᵹeᵹearwodest beforan me swiðe bradne beod wið þara willan þe me hatedon. Þu ᵹesmyredest me mid ele min heafod. Drihten, hu mære þin folc nu is: ælce dæᵹe hit symblað. | Thou hast maad redi a boord in my siȝt; aȝens hem that troblen me. Thou hast maad fat myn heed with oyle; and my cuppe, fillinge greetli, is ful cleer. | Thou preparest a table before me agaynst mine enemies: thou anoyntest my heade with oyle, & fyllest my cuppe full. | Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it! | Envious my foes watch, while thou dost spread a banquet for me; richly thou dost anoint my head with oil, well filled my cup. |
| 6 | And folᵹie me nu þin mildheortnes ealle daᵹas mines lifes, þæt ic mæᵹe wunian on þinum huse swiþe lange tiid oð lanᵹe ylde. | And thi merci schal sue me; in alle the daies of my lijf. And that Y dwelle in the hows of the Lord; in to the lengthe of daies. | Oh let thy lovynge kyndnes & mercy folowe me all the dayes off my life, that I maye dwell in the house off the LORDE for ever. | And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days. | All my life thy loving favour pursues me; through the long years the Lord's house shall be my dwelling-place. |
Psalm 23 is traditionally sung during thethird Shabbat meal[15][16] as well as before the first and second, and in some of Jewish communities during theKiddush. It is also commonly recited in the presence of a deceased person, such as by thosekeeping watch over the body before burial, and at thefuneral service itself.[17][18]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(October 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
For Christians, the image of God as a shepherd evokes connections not only with David but withJesus, described as the "Good Shepherd" in theGospel of John.[19] The phrase "the valley of the shadow of death" is often taken as an allusion to the eternal life given by Jesus.
Orthodox Christians typically include this Psalm in the prayers of preparation for receiving theEucharist.[20][21]
TheReformation inspired widespread efforts in western Europe to make biblical texts available in vernacular languages. One of the most popular early English versions was theGeneva Bible (1557). The most widely recognized version of the psalm in English today is undoubtedly the one drawn from theKing James Bible (1611).
In theCatholic Church, this psalm is assigned to the Daytime hours of Sunday Week 2 in theLiturgy of the Hours.[22] It is also sung as aresponsorial in Masses for the dead. In theChurch of England'sBook of Common Prayer, it is appointed to be read on the evening of the fourth day of the month.[23]
In theAgpeya, theCoptic Church'sbook of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office ofTerce.[24] It is also in the prayer of the Veil, which is generally prayed only by monks.[25]
The psalm is a popular passage for memorization and is often used insermons. Many phrases in the English translation of the psalm have become individually popular in their own right, in particular, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”,much of verse 4, and “my cup runneth over”.
In the 20th century, Psalm 23 became particularly associated with funeral liturgies in the English-speaking world, and films with funeral scenes often depict a graveside recitation of the psalm.[26] Official liturgies of English-speakingchurches were slow to adopt this practice. In theChurch of England, theBook of Common Prayer has only Psalms39 and90 in its Order for the Burial of the Dead.[27] In theEpiscopal Church in theUnited States, Psalm 23 was not used for funerals until the1928 revision of the prayer book.
InChristianity, a number of paraphrased versions of Psalm 23 emerged after theProtestant Reformation in the form ofMetrical psalms — poetic versions that could be set tohymn tunes. An early metrical version of the psalm in English was made in 1565 byThomas Sternhold. Other notable metrical versions to emerge from this period include those fromTheBay Psalm Book (1640),[28] theSidney Psalms byPhilip Sidney, and settings byGeorge Herbert andIsaac Watts.[28]
One of the best known metrical versions of Psalm 23 is the Christianhymn, "The Lord's My Shepherd", a translation first published in the 1650Scottish Psalter.[29] Although widely attributed to the EnglishParliamentarianFrancis Rous, the text was the result of significant editing by a translating committee in the 1640s before publication.[30] The hymn is one of the most popular hymns amongst English-speakingcongregations today, and it is traditionally sung to thehymn tuneCrimond, generally attributed toJessie Seymour Irvine.[31][32] Other melodies, such asBrother James' Air orAmazing Grace,Belmont,Evan,Martyrdom,Orlington, andWiltshire may also be used.[33]
Another popular Christian hymn to be based on Psalm 23 is "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" byHenry Baker (1868).[34]
| Sternhold and Hopkins (1628)[35] | Bay Psalm Book (1640)[36] | Rous Psalter (1643)[37] | The Scottish Psalter (1650)[38] |
|---|---|---|---|
The Lord is only my support, | The Lord to me a shepherd is, | My Shepherd is the Living Lord | The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want; |
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(January 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)
