Psalms 23 (YLT)

Chapter Text

23:1 A Psalm of David. Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> my shepherd, I do not lack,

23:2 In pastures of tender grass He causeth me to lie down, By quiet waters He doth lead me.

23:3 My soul He refresheth, He leadeth me in paths of righteousness, For His name's sake,

23:4 Also--when I walk in a valley of death-shade, I fear no evil, for Thou <FI>art<Fi> with me, Thy rod and Thy staff--they comfort me.

23:5 Thou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries, Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full!

23:6 Only--goodness and kindness pursue me, All the days of my life, And my dwelling <FI>is<Fi> in the house of Jehovah, For a length of days!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "psalm", "david", "jehovah", "shepherd", "lack", "pastures", "tender", and "grass". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "psalm" and "david", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "psalm" and "david" 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 "psalm" and "david" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.