Psalm 23 is one of the best-known passages of the Bible. It is read at funerals, prayed in hospitals and learned by children. In six verses David, who had been a shepherd himself, describes what it means to be cared for by God.

Psalms 23:1-6

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.

King James Version

The image of the shepherd

In the ancient Near East a shepherd led the flock to food and water, protected it from wild animals and searched for the lost sheep. Calling the Lord “my shepherd” is personal: David does not only say that God is a shepherd, but that He is his shepherd. Jesus takes up the same image when He says that He is the good shepherd (John 10:11).

Verse by verse

  • Verses 1–3: provision and rest. The sheep lacks nothing essential; God leads to green pastures and still waters and restores the soul.
  • Verse 4: presence in danger. The valley is still dark, but the believer is not alone. The rod and staff speak of protection and guidance.
  • Verse 5: honour. The image moves from the field to a host who prepares a table and anoints the guest.
  • Verse 6: a future. Goodness and mercy follow the believer all his days, and the psalm ends with the hope of dwelling in the house of the Lord.

Questions for a small group

  1. Which verse speaks most to your situation today, and why?
  2. What is the difference between “the Lord is a shepherd” and “the Lord is my shepherd”?
  3. How does verse 4 help someone who is going through grief or illness?

Presenting Psalm 23 in church

Show one verse per slide and let a short silence follow verse 4. In a bilingual congregation the psalm reads beautifully in two translations side by side. Read the whole chapter in the online Bible.