מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר׃
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Judaism · Psalms 23
The LORD Is My Shepherd
Psalms 23
Awaiting review by a scholar of this tradition. Original texts are public domain; the plain meanings and notes are written by IndiaDigital and are being checked. We describe what each tradition teaches, in its own terms, and never rank faiths. Report a correction
Psalm 23, which tradition attributes to King David, pictures God as a shepherd who guides, feeds and protects. It is among the best-loved psalms in Jewish life: many communities sing it at the Shabbat meals, and it is often recited at funerals, in a house of mourning and at times of illness or danger. Its quiet trust, 'I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me', has comforted readers through the centuries.
Hebrew is never read by a machine voice. "Listen" reads only the English or our Hindi and Marathi meanings. Our text never writes or voices the four-letter name of God; the translations say "the LORD".
בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל־מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי׃
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ׃
He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for His name's sake.
גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא־אִירָא רָע כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי׃
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.
תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה׃
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים׃
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Hebrew: Tanach with Nikkud (Sefaria, public domain). English: JPS 1917. Sefaria.
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