Psalms 23:1-3 (GNV)

Passage

A Psalme of David. The Lord is my shepheard, I shall not want. He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters. He restoreth my soule, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his Names sake.

Nearby Context

Psalms 23:1 A Psalme of David. The Lord is my shepheard, I shall not want.

Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.

Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soule, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his Names sake.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I should walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare no euill: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me.

Psalms 23:5 Thou doest prepare a table before me in the sight of mine aduersaries: thou doest anoynt mine head with oyle, and my cuppe runneth ouer.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "still waters", "psalme", "david", "lord", "shepheard", "shall", "want", and "maketh". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "still waters" and "psalme", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "Yea though I should walke through the...", so "still waters" and "psalme" should be read forward into that movement. 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 "still waters" and "psalme" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.