Psalm 23 Catholic: The Lord Is My Shepherd, Text and Meaning

Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” is the best-loved psalm in the Bible: a song of trust in God who guides, feeds, protects and welcomes us, even “in the midst of the shadow of death.” In the Douay-Rheims and other older Catholic Bibles it is numbered Psalm 22 and begins “The Lord ruleth me.” Below is the full Catholic text, why the numbering and wording differ, what each verse means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.

Psalm 23 in the Douay-Rheims Bible

A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.
For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

Why “The Lord ruleth me” and Psalm 22?

The Douay-Rheims Bible (1582–1610, revised by Bishop Challoner in 1750) was translated from the Latin Vulgate, which follows the Greek numbering of the psalms. Most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew numbering, so Psalm 22 in the Douay is Psalm 23 in the New American Bible and others. The Vulgate’s Dominus regit me (“The Lord rules me”) renders the Hebrew image of the shepherd, so the meaning is the same: the Lord is the shepherd who guides his people. See how many psalms are there?

What the psalm means

“I shall want nothing”: trust that God provides what we truly need.
Pasture and refreshing water: God gives rest and life to the weary soul.
The paths of justice: he leads us on the right way “for his own name’s sake,” because of his faithfulness, not our merits.
The shadow of death: even in the darkest valley we fear no evil, because he is with us; his rod and staff, signs of the shepherd’s protection, comfort us.
A table and a cup: God welcomes us as honored guests, even in front of our enemies.
Mercy that follows us: goodness pursues us all our days, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Jesus applied the image to himself: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep” (John 10:11). The early Church read the psalm as a description of the sacraments: the refreshing water of Baptism, the anointing with oil in Confirmation, and the table and overflowing cup of the Eucharist.

How the Church uses Psalm 23

At funerals, it is one of the most frequently chosen responsorial psalms. See Catholic funeral readings.
On Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A), and on several other Sundays.
In prayers for the sick and dying. See prayers for the dying.

A prayer with Psalm 23

Written for this page:

Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, you know me by name.
Lead me today to rest and to the waters of your grace.
When I walk through dark valleys, let me feel your presence;
feed me at your table, and bring me safely home
to dwell in your house for ever. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Is Psalm 23 in the Catholic Bible?

Yes. It is Psalm 23 in modern Catholic Bibles such as the New American Bible, and Psalm 22 in the Douay-Rheims.

Why is Psalm 23 read at funerals?

Because it expresses trust that the Lord is with us even “in the shadow of death” and will bring us to dwell in his house for ever.

Who wrote Psalm 23?

Its title attributes it to David, the shepherd who became king.

More psalms and prayers

Texts and sources

Scripture: Psalm 22 (23); John 10:11, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayer was written for this page.