Psalm 23
Psalm 23, the most beloved psalm in the world, pictures God as the shepherd who provides, guides, restores and protects. It carries the believer through green pastures and the valley of the shadow of death alike.
The Book of Psalms · Old Testament · chapter 23 of 150.
Where this chapter sits
Tradition assigns this psalm to David through a heading that claims authorship without dating an occasion, and it belongs among the trust or confidence psalms, poems that settle into assurance rather than argue their way toward it. As a genre they typically stay in one register, yet this one passes through danger without dropping its calm, part of why it has served mourners, the sick and the anxious across nearly every Christian tradition.
Key verses (KJV)
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” — Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” — Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
Notice the pronoun shift at verse 4: earlier verses describe the LORD in third person, he leadeth, he restoreth, then the poem turns to address him directly, thou art with me, right where the valley is named. The table before enemies extends the same governing image into hospitality.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does Psalm 23 come in Psalms?
It is chapter 23 of 150 in Psalms, a book of Wisdom in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Psalms are linked further down this page.
Where can I read Psalm 23?
Read the full text of Psalm 23 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.