November 25, 2012

Psalm 23 - Background and one Jewish translation


A little background to Psalm 23:


According to tradition, this Psalm was composed during one of David's most difficult periods - while on the run from Saul and his men, alone in a desolate forest (1Sam 22).  Clearly, there was no Temple standing in Jerusalem in David's time - his son, Solomon built the First Temple.  But David was instrumental in building a temporary sanctuary to house the Ark in the City of David, i.e., in Jerusalem (2Sam 6:17).

One Jewish translation, provided just to see that it is similar to Christian translations:

A song of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He causes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads 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.

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