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Psalm 23 CSB Audio Bible
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About Psalms 23
The best-known psalm in the Bible pictures the LORD as a shepherd who provides green pastures, still waters, and a restored soul — and who walks with His sheep even through the valley of the shadow of death. It closes at a table prepared in the presence of enemies, an overflowing cup, and the confidence of dwelling in the house of the LORD forever.
Listen to Psalms 23 with verse-by-verse audio highlighting.
Read Psalms 23 in modern English — World English Bible (6 verses)
The player above streams this page’s licensed translation, and its text loads in the interactive reader. For reading and comparison, here is the same chapter in the public-domain World English Bible (WEB):
1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
Study tools for Psalm 23
Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Psalm 23. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.
Psalm 23 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 29 cross-references, 4 Early-Church citations.
Cross-references in Psalm 23 (29)
- v.1 Philippians 4:19
- v.1 John 10:11
- v.1 Isaiah 40:11
- v.1 John 10:27-30
- v.1 John 10:14
- v.1 Revelation 7:17
- v.4 Isaiah 41:10
- v.1 Matthew 6:33
- v.4 Psalms 118:6
- v.1 1 Peter 2:25
- v.4 Psalms 138:7
- v.1 Ezekiel 34:11-12
- v.1 Hebrews 13:5-6
- v.1 Psalms 34:9-10
- v.1 1 Peter 5:4
- v.1 Ezekiel 34:23-24
- v.1 Psalms 84:11
- v.4 Isaiah 43:1-2
- v.1 Romans 8:32
- v.2 Revelation 7:17
- v.1 Luke 12:30-32
- v.3 Isaiah 42:16
- v.4 Psalms 3:6
- v.6 Psalms 27:4
- v.1 Hebrews 13:20
- v.5 Ephesians 3:20
- v.1 Micah 5:4
- v.6 2 Timothy 4:18
- v.3 Psalms 31:3
Hebrew interlinear — Psalm 23:1–6 (55 words)
1
- יְהוָ֥הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- רֹ֝עִ֗יrōʿîra`ah: to tend a flock i.e. pasture it; (intransitively, literally or figuratively) to grazeH7462
- לֹ֣אlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
- אֶחְסָֽר׃ʾeḥsārchacer: to lack; (by implication) to fail, want, lessenH2637
2
- בִּנְא֣וֹתbinʾôtna'ah: a home; (figuratively) a pastureH4999
- דֶּ֭שֶׁאdešeʾdeshe': a sprout; by analogy, grassH1877
- יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִיyarbîṣēnîrabats: to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal)H7257
- עַלʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
- מֵ֖יmêmayim: water; (figuratively) juiceH4325
- מְנֻח֣וֹתmĕnuḥôtmnuwchah: repose; (adverbially) peacefullyH4496
- יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃yĕnahălēnînahal: (properly) to run with a sparkle, i.e. flowH5095
3
- נַפְשִׁ֥יnapšînephesh: (properly) a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitalityH5315
- יְשׁוֹבֵ֑בyĕšôbēbshuwb: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the...H7725
- יַֽנְחֵ֥נִיyanḥēnînachah: to guide; (by implication) to transport (into exile, or as colonists)H5148
- בְמַעְגְּלֵיbĕmaʿgĕlêma`gal: a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular)H4570
- צֶ֝֗דֶקṣedeqtsedeq: the right (natural, moral or legal); (abstractly) equityH6664
- לְמַ֣עַןlĕmaʿanma`an: (properly) heed, i.e. purposeH4616
- שְׁמֽוֹ׃šĕmôshem: an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individualityH8034
4
- גַּ֤םgamgam: (properly) assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, thoughH1571
- כִּֽיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
- אֵלֵ֨ךְʾēlēkhalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
- בְּגֵ֪יאbĕgêʾgay': a gorge (from its lofty sides; (hence) narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)H1516
- צַלְמָ֡וֶתṣalmāwettsalmaveth: shade of death, i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity)H6757
- לֹאlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
- אִ֘ירָ֤אʾîrāʾyare': to fear; morally, to revereH3372
- רָ֗עrāʿra`: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)H7451
- כִּיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
- אַתָּ֥הʾattâattah: thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youH859
- עִמָּדִ֑יʿimmādî`immad: along withH5978
- שִׁבְטְךָ֥šibṭĕkāshebet: a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a...H7626
- וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָûmišʿantekāmish`enah: support (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stickH4938
- הֵ֣מָּהhēmmâhem: they (only used when emphatic)H1992
- יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃yĕnaḥămunînacham: (properly) to sigh, i.e. breathe stronglyH5162
5
- תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְtaʿărōk`arak: to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)H6186
- לְפָנַ֨י׀lĕpānaypaniym: the face (as the part that turns); (with prepositional prefix, as a preposition) before, etc.H6440
- שֻׁלְחָ֗ןšulḥānshulchan: a table (as spread out); (by implication) a mealH7979
- נֶ֥גֶדnegedneged: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mateH5048
- צֹרְרָ֑יṣōrĕrāytsarar: to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (as follows)H6887
- דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּdiššantādashen: to be fat; transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat)H1878
- בַשֶּׁ֥מֶןbaššemenshemen: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)H8081
- רֹ֝אשִׁ֗יrōʾšîro'sh: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank...H7218
- כּוֹסִ֥יkôsîkowc: a cup (as a container); (often, figuratively) a lot (as if a potion)H3563
- רְוָיָֽה׃rĕwāyârvayah: satisfactionH7310
6
- אַ֤ךְ׀ʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
- ט֤וֹבṭôbtowb: good (as an adjective) in the widest senseH2896
- וָחֶ֣סֶדwāḥesedcheced: kindness; (by implication, towards God) pietyH2617
- יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִיyirdĕpûnîradaph: to run after (usually with hostile intentH7291
- כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
- יְמֵ֣יyĕmêyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
- חַיָּ֑יḥayyāychay: alive; (hence) raw (flesh)H2416
- וְשַׁבְתִּ֥יwĕšabtîyashab: (properly) to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet)H3427
- בְּבֵיתbĕbêtbayith: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)H1004
- יְ֝הוָ֗הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- לְאֹ֣רֶךְlĕʾōrekorek: lengthH753
- יָמִֽים׃yāmîmyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
Strong's words in Psalm 23 (6)
- Strong's H3068 — יְהוָ֥ה (yĕhwâ)
- Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw') n/p. 1. (the) self-Existent or Eternal 2. Jehovah, Jewish national name of God [from H1961] KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Root(s): H1961 Compare: H3050, H3069. Appears 2 times in Psalm 23.
- Strong's H3117 — יְמֵ֣י (yĕmê)
- yowm (yome) n-m. 1. a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb) [from an unused root meaning to be hot] KJV: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.. Appears 2 times in Psalm 23.
- Strong's H1004 — בְּבֵית (bĕbêt)
- bayith (bah'-yith) n-m. 1. a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) [probably from H1129 abbreviated] KJV: court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out). Root(s): H1129. Appears 1 time in Psalm 23.
- Strong's H1516 — בְּגֵ֪יא (bĕgêʾ)
- gay' (gah'-ee) (or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}) n-e. 1. a gorge (from its lofty sides 2. (hence) narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) [probably (by transmutation) from the same root as H1466 (abbreviated)] KJV: valley. Root(s): H1466. Appears 1 time in Psalm 23.
- Strong's H1571 — גַּ֤ם (gam)
- gam (gam) adv. 1. (properly) assemblage 2. used only adverbially also, even, yea, though 3. often repeated as correl. both...and [by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather] KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.. Appears 1 time in Psalm 23.
- Strong's H1877 — דֶּ֭שֶׁא (dešeʾ)
- deshe' (deh'-sheh) n-m. 1. a sprout 2. by analogy, grass [from H1876] KJV: (tender) grass, green, (tender)herb. Root(s): H1876. Appears 1 time in Psalm 23.
“The Holy Spirit also is not silent in the Psalms on the sacrament of this thing, when He makes mention of the Lord's cup, and says, "Thy inebriating cup, how excellent it is!" Now the cup which inebriates is assuredly mingled with wine, for water cannot inebriate anybody. And...”
What the Early Church wrote about Psalm 23 (3 additional)
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“And, moreover, the ark made of imperishable wood was the Saviour Himself. For by this was signified the imperishable and incorruptible tabernacle of (the Lord) Himself, which gendered no corruption of sin. For the sinner, indeed, makes this confession: "My wounds stank, and we...”
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“Just as certain rewards are given to the contender in mighty contests, so also in any trial, when that which afflicts is nearby and the powers of the adversaries bring tribulation, know that a spiritual and intellectual table is prepared on account of this trial. Therefore, ho...”
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“Scripture is a witness that “rod” speaks of punishments and scourges. If you have sinned and you see the rod of God threatening you, know that the mercy of God will not be far from you.”