Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (Greek numbering: Psalm 22), sometimes known as the Shepherd Psalm because of its opening line, "The Lord is my shepherd", is perhaps the best-known psalm, and perhaps the best-known chapter in the Hebrew Bible.

The theme of this poem casts God in the role of protector and provider, and is routinely read and recited by Jews and Christians alike. For Christians, the "Lord" referred is sometimes taken to be Jesus, who referred to himself as the "good shepherd" according to the Gospel of John.

It has been set to music a number of times, particularly by hymn writers.

Translations

A song of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in green pastures;
 He leadth me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
 He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even when I walk in the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil  for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they comfort me.
You set a table before me in the presence of my adversaries;  You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life,  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days.

– Judaica Press

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 path of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even 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.

– King James Version

In Jewish worship

Sung in the original Hebrew, this psalm is a common song for Jews at the third Shabbat meal on Saturday afternoon. It is also sung during the Yizkor service. Sephardic and some Hassidic Jews also sing during Friday afternoon services, and as part of the Sabbath night and day meals. It is read at a cemetary funeral service instead of the traditional prayer during jewish holidays.

In Christian worship

Orthodox Christians typically include it in the prayers of preparation for receiving the Eucharist. It is also a popular passage to memorize, for those who choose to memorize selected portions of the Bible.

Psalm 23 was set in meter as part of the Scottish Psalter [1] shortly after the Reformation. It is in that form that it is most popularly encountered in Protestant Churches and common culture to the present day. Traditionally, the metrical psalm is set to the tune 'Crimond' (MIDI file), although other tunes such as Brother James' Air are also popular.

Because of its message of comfort and protection, as well as the fact that its tunes are so well known, Psalm 23 is a staple element of funeral services.

Many composers have set the psalm to music, including Schubert, Stanford and Howells (included as part of his Requiem). A recent contemporary setting was made by composer Howard Goodall for the British television series The Vicar of Dibley. Goodall's melody is now regularly performed in many English churches

Vincent Salamoni, a Roman Catholic U.S. Navy chaplain, wrote a specialised version U.S. Marine Corps version of the Psalm, written in military style.^[1]

In popular culture

• Mel Gibson recites it as he is giving a speech to his men on their graduation from basic training before leaving for Vietnam.
• The hit 1973 song "Lay Down" by The Strawbs is clearly derived from Psalm 23 although it does not use the original wording.
• A parody of this psalm is used in the song Sheep by Pink Floyd from the album Animals.
• This psalm makes up part of the lyrics to The Grateful Dead's Ripple from their album American Beauty.
• This psalm is used as the lyrics of Megadeth's Shadow of Deth from their album The System Has Failed.
• A short part of the lyrics for Alice in Chains' song Sickman (from their album Dirt) references the psalm (Yea, and though I walked through the valley of rape and despair...)
• This psalm (in Hebrew) makes up part of the lyrics to Orphaned Land's Aldiar Al Mukadisa from their album Sahara.
• This psalm (in Hebrew) makes up part of the lyrics to Shlomo Carlebach's Gam Ki Elech.
• The psalm also makes up the first line in a song by the rap artist Coolio entitled "Gangsta's Paradise".
• Further this psalm makes up part of the lyrics in the hit song Jesus Walks by the rap artist Kanye West.
• This psalm is recited at the beginning of the song "You're Nobody (Till Somebody Kills You)" by the Notorious B.I.G. on the Life After Death album.
• Bobby McFerrin wrote an a cappella adaptation of this psalm, using the female gender for pronouns referring to God.
• In the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea LL Cool J's character recites a version of the Psalm before the characters attempt to kill a genetically enhanced shark.
• In the film Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman, Frankenstein recites Psalm 23 after being captured by Dracula during the Carnival in Budapest.
• In an episode of the television show Oz, prisoner Reverend Jeremiah Cloutier recites Psalm 23 while he was trapped due to fellow prisoners Timmy Kirk and Jaz Hoyt.
• An episode of the television series Lost that aired on January 11, 2006 is titled "The 23rd Psalm". The characters Mr. Eko and Charlie recite the psalm together (as "I walk through the shadow of the valley of death.") after discovering an airplane that Eko's brother crashed in.
• The psalm, in Hebrew, is featured in the 2nd movement of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Bernstein specifically asks for a boy alto or male countertenor to sing the beautiful solo of this movement, depicting the young David.
• The same psalm is used on the song Gaia by the Spanish folk metal band Mägo de Oz.
• In the film "The Elephant Man" the title character recites the psalm, revealing for the first time that he is an educated and sensitive person.
• U2's song "Love Rescue Me" from the album "Rattle and Hum" includes the lyrics "Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow, Yea, I will fear no evil. I have cursed thy rod and staff, They no longer comfort me, Love rescue me."
• The psalm is recited by police sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) in the film The Wicker Man, as he is burned alive (sacrificed) in a brutal pagan ceremony on Summerisle, a fictitious, remote Scottish island.
• In the 2005 movie Jarhead, Staff Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) parodies the psalm by saying, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the baddest M*****F***** in the valley." An earlier version of the profane parody is recited in the movie Full Metal Jacket. The parody is available on T-shirts and bumper stickers popular among some military and gun enthusiasts.
• The protagonists in the Stephen King novel 'Salem's Lot recite the psalm to build their courage before fighting vampires.
• The psalm is recited in the graphic novel V for Vendetta by Anthony Lilliman, the corrupt Bishop of Westminster, as the revolutionary V breaks into Westminster Abbey with the intent of killing him.
• The English sitcom The Vicar of Dibley uses the psalm as its theme music set by Howard Goodall and performed by 'George and the Choir' (The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford). The conductor is Stephen Darlington. It was released as a charity single with proceeds to Comic Relief.
• In an episode of Prison Break Michael Scofield prays the 23rd Psalm around the time his brother is about to be executed
• In the movie X2 X-Men United, Nightcrawler recites the Psalm 23 at near the end of the movie, thinking Jean Grey drowned herself.
• West Bromwich Albion F.C. fans frequently sing part of this on matchdays.
• Recited by Joe in Hitchcock's 1944 "Lifeboat" (novella written by John Steinbeck).
• The psalm was used in George W. Bush's address to the United States on September 11, 2001 after the attacks of that day.
• A verse of the psalm was used many times in the album "Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)" by the band, Marilyn Manson.
• In German music group E Nomine's song "Psalm 23" from the album Das Testament, the Lutherbibel version of the psalm is recited.
• In the song For You (We were Soldiers Soundtrack)by Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews,Johnny Cash sings around 2:00 Yea, though I walk through the valley, of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. You are with me."
• In the 1997 version of Titanic, as Rose and Jack are climbing towards to the front of the boat, as it is sinking, there is a man who is climbing the stairs in front of them. While he is climbing he is saying, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... " after which Jack says "you wanna walk a little faster through that valley pal?" (because he is holding up the people trying to get to the back of the ship.
• In one version of the song "No W" by industrial metal band Ministry (the version used for the video, without the guitar solo), George W Bush simply says "Psalm 23" just before the music kicks in.
• It is part of the Ezekiel 25:17 pastiche in Pulp Fiction.
• Part of the Psalm was mournfully recited by a desperate soldier in the film Gallipoli (1981), just before his regiment charged out of the trench towards the machine guns.
• The Psalm is spoofed in the 1992 comedy Sister Act as part of a meal blessing : "And uh... ye Lord, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of no food, I shall fear no hunger."
• In "Let There Be Light" by Nas ft. The Williams, the chorus contains the lyrics "As I walk through the shadow of death

I know that I ain't got much time left And they don't really wanna see the good in me Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me?"

• In John Cheever's famous short story, The Death of Justina, the psalm is recited in full.

References

1. ^ Marine Corps Engineer Association. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.

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