The Psalms were written to be sung aloud with joy and thankfulness, but our bible translations lack the metric form typically found in our modern songs, thus making them difficult to sing naturally. Jacobs and Cobb, in the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia described Hebrew poetry this way: “So far as the evidence extends at present, it can only be asserted that the Hebrew poets were acquainted with meter, and employed it very freely, changing at will from one form to another, within the same composition, but making the substance of their thought so far paramount over its form that they were often unwilling to wait for a perfect rhythmical expression.”
The 23rd Psalm is, without doubt, the best recognized of the 150 found in the biblical book of Psalms. Each and every translation endeavors to paint David’s pastoral scene in different colours, or from a different angle, as David describes his faith, dependence and thankfulness in God from the viewpoint of shepherd boy experience. W. Creighton Marlowe, in his own exploration of the psalm describes the myriad analyses this way: “Approaches to this psalm are legion: theologians, teachers, preachers, seminarians, linguists, free-lance writers, death-bed counselors, spiritual shepherds, and even a literal shepherd have all “looked” at Psalm 23. Of course “looked” is euphemistic for interpreted; and so many have looked that a new angle does not seem possible…” (The Asbury Theological Journal, 2003)
The version presented here is from the 1650 edition of the Scottish Psalter, a metrical and readily singable poem. Countless revisions, and careful honing produced here a form of David’s work that is true to the original text, and to many Christians is more familiar than the literal translations found in our many bible versions. We often reach for this psalm in times of trial and tragedy, when find ourselves walking in “…death’s dark vale”, and David draws for us a picture of a God that cares for, and loves us, and will meet our every need. Be comforted!