Francis Rous (1579-1659), an English lawyer and churchman, reworked the words of the twenty-third Psalm into a wonderful hymn, “The Lord’s My Shepherd.” His adaptation of the Psalm has been revised into many different forms, and has been put to many different tunes, and sung in many different ways. The link below is to a beautiful Celtic rendition of the hymn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxL2xdWeKY
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“The Lord’s My Shepherd”
1. The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
his goodness restores my soul.
Refrain:
And I will trust in you alone.
And I will trust in you alone,
for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home.
2. He guides my ways in righteousness,
and he anoints my head with oil,
and my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on his pure delights. [Refrain]
3. And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
for you are with me and your rod and staff
are the comfort I need to know. [Refrain]
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PSALM 23 (King James Version):
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 paths of righteousness 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 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.
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