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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is read especially through the theme of trust & refuge, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

Trust & RefugeWisdomJustice
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 23

1A Psalm by David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.

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

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

4Even 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.

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

6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is read especially through the theme of trust & refuge, within Book I (Psalms 1–41). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book I (Psalms 1–41). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Trust & Refuge, Wisdom, Justice. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 23

Psalm 23 contains 6 verses and about 112 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A Psalm by David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 6 closes: “Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, psalm, david, shepherd, lack, nothing. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 23

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 23:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes trust & refuge, with related themes of Trust & Refuge, Wisdom, Justice. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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