The most famous of them all: Psalm 23

I do not know if there is any other Psalm that captures, so exquisitely, the relationship between God and man. Psalm 23 is simple, yet sublime, in its thoughts, words and word-pictures. We must remember that David, of the House of Jesse, was just a shepherd, before he was elevated. It is therefore natural that, when he constructed the Psalms, he used the imagery of the field, the pasture, and the supreme image of the good shepherd. From that image alone stems the fact that God is the ultimate “Good Shepherd”, the tradition reaching to the life and times of Jesus. Only when we realise that Adam himself was put in the garden to tend it, and from there, all the way down to Jesus, will we begin to understand that “man will live forevermore”, because the Good Shepherd” always cares for His flock.

Psalm 23 is divided into 6 stanzas, or verses. In my rendition, I have used 4 verses of 4 lines each. While the original does not follow a metrical pattern, I have gone with: aa/bb, cc/dd, ee/ff, gggg. I hope you, dear Reader, do not think it presumptuous of me, wondering if the Holy Book can ever be revised. In my defence, you yourself may have come across many versions of the Bible, and who is to say this one is more accurate than that. So, I rest my case in the hope that my sincere efforts may be seen in the light of the truth—God is great.

The Lord is my guide, He’ll give me my needs;

He speaks to my soul, I’ll tell of His deeds.

He nurtures my thoughts and leads me to peace,

Forever and aye, till my breath shall cease.

With God by my side, no harm can appear,

The forces of evil may strive to be here;

I’ll cross dark valleys with no fear at all,

His rod and His staff will not let me fall.

My foes look disturbed, for God is with me,

My table is spread so bountifully;

My cup overflows, it is from my Lord,

For who can gainsay my trust in my God.

Goodness and love will the Lord give to me,

With this I do know that I shall be free,

And follow His rules so that I may be

In heaven, with Him, eternally.

Amen.