מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד ה' רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר

A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd. Taking on the perspective of the lamb, the psalmist expresses gratitude to the shepherd for all he does. This metaphor is maintained throughout much of the psalm. Because God watches over me, I lack nothing.

בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי

He has me lie down in green pastures. Wherever I go, He provides me with resources that offer food and rest. He leads me beside still, gently flowing waters, streams that provide water in abundance without the danger that a strong current could pose to a lamb.

נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ

He restores my soul. The root of the Hebrew word yeshovev, translated here as “He restores,” sometimes means “to grant rest,” but its basic meaning is “to return.” When one’s soul is troubled or worried, it is not at peace, as though it is not in its natural place, but distanced and dislocated. When the soul returns to its true place, the result is inner peace. He leads me in paths of righteousness. Maglei tzedek, translated as “paths of righteousness,” can also mean “correct paths,” those fitting for the occasion. In the metaphor of the lamb and the shepherd, they represent paths suitable for a lamb to tread. In human terms, the phrase refers to one’s course in life, a pathway that enables a person to remain righteous and that does not provide negative influences that contradict that goal. God cares for us for His name’s sake, for His own sake, not necessarily because we are deserving of His protection. Whatever God’s motivation, we, like the lamb, benefit from His tender care, as through it we attain serenity.

גַּם כִּי אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא אִירָא רָע כִּי אַתָּה עִמָּדִי שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי

Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: This phrase apparently refers to a vale that is accessed by a dangerous path, surrounded by pitfalls or perilous cliffs. Even when I traverse such a place, I fear no evil. I walk with confidence, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, instruments used by the shepherd to guide the flock, gently prodding those that stray back to the proper path, they comfort me.

תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה

The images in this verse belong more to the human realm, but they too have a dual meaning: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. “Table” is used here in the broad sense of any place to eat. Even though enemies of all kinds may be lying in wait for me, I can sit and eat in peace, because You are with me, just as the lamb can graze, unafraid of predators, when the trusted shepherd is close. You anoint my head with oil, a practice that could impart comfort as well as impart cosmetic value to one’s head. My cup is full. Literally, this expression means “my cup is one of saturation.” That is, there is enough wine in the cup to enable me to drink my fill and adequately quench my thirst.

אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּי וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית ה' לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים

May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Relieved of fear of adversity, my happiness complete, I will be able to spend my time in the House of God, singing His praises without want or worry.