Tehillim · Psalms
Tehillim Chapter 23
The Lord is my shepherd
- Author:
- King David
- 6 verses
- Book One
- Reading time:
- 1 min
- Day 4 of monthly cycle
A psalm of comfort, traditionally recited at the third Shabbat meal and at funerals. Chapter 23 of Tehillim belongs to Book One (chapters 1 through 41), and is traditionally attributed to King David. It contains 6 verses in vocalized Hebrew from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, paired with the JPS 1917 English translation (both public domain).
- מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃
- בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃
- נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃
- גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃
- תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃
- אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
English translation (JPS 1917)
- A Psalm of David. 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 guideth me in straight paths 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 hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- 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.
Tehillim Chapter 23: questions and answers
Who wrote Tehillim chapter 23?
According to traditional Jewish attribution, chapter 23 was authored by King David. The book of Tehillim (Psalms) contains 150 chapters compiled by King David, including psalms by ten additional psalmists: Asaph, the sons of Korach, Moses, Heman, Ethan, and others.
How many verses does Psalm 23 have?
Psalm 23 contains 6 verses. The average unhurried reading time is about 1 minute.
Which of the Five Books of Psalms is chapter 23 in?
Chapter 23 belongs to Book One (chapters 1 through 41). Parallel to Genesis of the Torah's five books.
When is Psalm 23 read in the 30-day cycle?
Following the traditional 30-day cycle for reading the entire Tehillim once a month, Psalm 23 is read on day 4.
Is the Hebrew text of Psalm 23 pointed (with nikud)?
Yes. The Hebrew text comes from the Westminster Leningrad Codex via the Sefaria public-domain project, including full nikud (vowel pointing) and ta'amei mikra (cantillation marks).
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