Psalms 23:1-3 (WEB)

Passage

Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Nearby Context

Psalms 23:1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalms 23:4 Even 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.

Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "green pastures", "still waters", "yahweh", "shepherd", "shall", "lack", "nothing", and "makes". 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 next verse adds "Even though I walk through the valley...", so "green pastures" and "still waters" 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 "green pastures" and "still waters" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.