PSALM 23
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.
Commentary:
The psalm is loved by Jews and Christians alike, speaking as it does of God's protection and care. Both traditions use the psalm as a hymn. For the Jews, Psalm 23 is used as a focus for the third meal in the Shabbat, (the Sabbath rest) and on other religious occassions such as in the Yizkor (prayers of rememberance).
The Christian church has two or three popular melodies that set the psalm to music. The most popular is set to the "Crimond" tune, another being the melody also used in John Newton's "Amazing Grace".
The psalm is often used at funerals, speaking as it does of God's protection in the face of death.