Chapter Text
23:1 Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.
23:3 He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name`s sake.
23:4 Yea, thou 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.
23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. Psalm 24 A Psalm of David.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "green pastures", "still waters", "valley of the shadow of death", "jehovah", "shepherd", "shall", "want", and "maketh". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "green pastures" and "still waters", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The local ASV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "green pastures" and "still waters" carries the first interpretive weight. In The LORD as Shepherd, the local focus is trust, covenant mercy, guidance, and worship.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "green pastures" and "still waters" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.