Passage
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Nearby Context
Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though 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.
Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "green pastures", "still waters", "valley of the shadow of death", "mercy", "lord", "shepherd", "shall", and "want". 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 KJV 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.