Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 23 » Verse 5

Psalms 23:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Psalms 23:5 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

5 Thou preparest H6186 a table H7979 before H6440 me in the presence of mine enemies: H6887 thou anointest H1878 my head H7218 with oil; H8081 my cup H3563 runneth over. H7310


Psalms 23:5 American Standard (ASV)

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.


Psalms 23:5 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

5 Thou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries, Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full!


Psalms 23:5 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Psalms 23:5 World English Bible (WEB)

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.


Psalms 23:5 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

5 You make ready a table for me in front of my haters: you put oil on my head; my cup is overflowing.

Cross Reference

Psalms 31:19-20 KJV

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

John 6:53-56 KJV

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

John 10:9-10 KJV

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Commentary on Psalms 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 23

Ps 23:1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor.

1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Ge 48:15; Ps 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.

2. green pastures—or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest.

the still waters—are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.

3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it (Ps 19:7), or relieve it (La 1:11, 19).

paths of righteousness—those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him.

for his name's sake—or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare.

4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near.

the valley of the shadow of death—is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest.

thy rod and thy staff—are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them he guides his sheep.

5, 6. Another figure expresses God's provided care.

a table—or, "food," anointing

oil—the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing

cup—which represents abundance—are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual.