Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 23 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

You are here: Home New Catholic Bible (NCB) Psalm 23

Psalm 23[a]

Prayer to the Good Shepherd

1 A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall lack.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;[b]
he leads me to tranquil streams.
3 He restores my soul,[c]
guiding me in paths of righteousness
so that his name may be glorified.
4 Even though I wander
through the valley of the shadow of death,[d]
I will fear no evil,
for you are at my side,
with your rod and your staff
that comfort me.
5 [e]You spread a table for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;[f]
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and kindness[g] will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23:1 This psalm is a profession of joyful trust in the Lord as the good Shepherd-King that has become one of the world’s greatest prayers. The image of God in shepherd’s garb has parallels in the Prophets (see Isa 40:11; Ezek 34:11-16) and will be the best known of the allegories in which Jesus speaks of himself (see Jn 10:11-18), so much so that the New Testament writers love to give him this title (see Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25; Rev 7:17). The water, oil, and cup of wine of which the text speaks made Christians think of the Sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. As a result, the psalm used to be sung during the Easter Vigil by the newly baptized, who were filled with the joy of God.
    In praying this psalm, we can dwell on the fact that the heavenly Father’s love embraces us from eternity, preparing for us in Christ all kinds of spiritual blessings: election, adoption, redemption, incorporation into Christ (see Eph 1:3-14). He watches over us solicitously (see Mt 6:25-34) and follows us through the Good Shepherd who seeks out the straying sheep until he finds it again (see Lk 15).
  2. Psalm 23:2 Green pastures: a symbol for everything that makes life flourish. Tranquil streams: literally, “waters of resting places,” waters that bring refreshment and well-being (see Isa 49:10).
  3. Psalm 23:3 Restores my soul: the Lord revitalizes the psalmist’s spirit (see Ps 19:8; Ru 4:15; Prov 25:13; Lam 1:16). Paths of righteousness: paths that conform to the will of the Lord, the “right way.”
  4. Psalm 23:4 Valley of the shadow of death: another possible translation is: “through the darkest valley.” It refers to any situation that is death-threatening.
  5. Psalm 23:5 What was only a comparison used by the psalmist to indicate the happiness of those who dwell in the house of the Lord has become a wonderful reality in the New Covenant. God sets the table for all who as members of his Church seek rest and protection in the house of God during their pilgrimage. He gives them the Bread of Heaven and the cup of his love and the riches of his grace—Christ’s Precious Blood and the anointing of the Spirit with his sevenfold gifts.
  6. Psalm 23:5 In the ancient Near East, covenants were frequently made at a meal (see Ps 41:10; Gen 31:54; Ob 7). Anoint my head with oil: reception customarily accorded to an honored guest at a banquet (see Lk 7:46; see also 2 Sam 12:20; Eccl 9:8; Dan 10:3). Cup: the same image is found in Pss 16:5; 75:9; 116:13. This verse indicates that the Messianic Banquet (see Ps 22:27) is reserved for the righteous; the wicked are excluded from it (see Isa 65:13f).
  7. Psalm 23:6 Goodness and kindness: the terms often refer to blessings of God’s covenant with Israel; here they are personified (see Pss 25:21; 43:3; 79:8; 89:14). Days of my life: see Pss 27:4; 128:5. Forever: this word could mean “throughout the years.” However, since even the pagan people surrounding Israel believed that human life continued after death in some kind of shadowy existence in the netherworld (see notes on Pss 11:7; 16:9-11), the word “forever” legitimately can be taken in its true sense.

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 23 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

23 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 e...
Read More

Psalm 23 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

23 The psalm of David. The Lord governeth me, and nothing shall fail to me; (The song of David. The Lord governeth me, and there is nothing that I shall lack;) 2 in the place of pasture there he hath set me. He nourished me on the water of refreshing; (he hath set me in a place of pasture. He nouris...
Read More

Psalm 23 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Psalm by David.23 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 ...
Read More

Psalm 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 23A song of David.Psalm 23 is the best known and most beloved psalm in the collection. Surprisingly, it casts humanity as sheep—stupid, helpless sheep. But the long-lasting appeal of Psalm 23 is a direct result of that casting because the imagery is both soothing and accessible.When he was a b...
Read More

Psalm 23 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Adonai-Ro-ehPsalm 231 A psalm of David.Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.3 He restores my soul.He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I w...
Read More

Psalm 23 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Divine ShepherdA Psalm of David.23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;2 he makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters;[a]3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in paths of righteousness[c] for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow ...
Read More

Psalm 23 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Divine ShepherdA Psalm of David.23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;2 he makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters;[a]3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in paths of righteousness[c] for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow ...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 23The Divine ShepherdA Psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;[a]3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in right paths[c] for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d] I fear...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 23The Divine ShepherdA Psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;[a]3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in right paths[c] for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d] I fear...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 23The Divine ShepherdA Psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.(A)2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;[a](B)3 he restores my soul.[b]He leads me in right paths[c] for his name’s sake.(C)4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 23A psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will not be afraid...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Lord—Our Shepherd23 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 4 Yes, even if I walk th...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord the Shepherd of His PeopleA Psalm of David.23 The Lord is (A)my shepherd;(B)I shall not [a]want.2 (C)He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;(D)He leads me beside the [c]still waters.3 He restores my soul;(E)He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I ...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 23A psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil, for you ...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 23A 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 wil...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 23A psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need.2 He lets me lie down in fields of green grass.He leads me beside quiet waters.3 He gives me new strength.He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I wi...
Read More

Psalm 23 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 23[a]A psalm of David.23 The Lord is my shepherd,[b]I lack nothing.[c]2 He takes me to lush pastures,[d]he leads me to refreshing water.[e]3 He restores my strength.[f]He leads me down[g] the right paths[h]for the sake of his reputation.[i]4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,[j]...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags