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Psalm 23[a]

The Lord, Shepherd and Host

A psalm of David.

I

The Lord is my shepherd;[b]
    there is nothing I lack.(A)
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
    to still waters he leads me;
    (B)he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths[c]
    for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,(C)
    I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff comfort me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 23 God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).
  2. 23:1 My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).
  3. 23:3 Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”

11 Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
    in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
    leading the ewes with care.(A)

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To say to the prisoners: Come out!
    To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the roadways they shall find pasture,
    on every barren height shall their pastures be.(A)
10 They shall not hunger or thirst;
    nor shall scorching wind or sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
    and guides them beside springs of water.(B)

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20 [a]May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13:20–21 These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author’s frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned.

17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them
    and lead them to springs of life-giving water,[a]
    and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 7:17 Life-giving water: literally, “the water of life,” God’s grace, which flows from Christ; cf. Rev 21:6; 22:1, 17; Jn 4:10, 14.