Psalm 23

The theme of the 23rd Psalm (Greek numbering: Psalm 22) in the Bible casts God in the role of protector and provider. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, has often been set to music.

In Jewish tradition

A long tradition ascribes authorship of the psalm to King David, said in the Hebrew Scriptures to have been a shepherd himself as a youth.

Psalm 23 is traditionally sung by Jews in Hebrew at the third Shabbat meal on Saturday afternoon. It is also sung during the Yizkor service. Sephardic and some Hassidic Jews also sing during Friday afternoon services and as part of the Sabbath night and day meals. It is read at a cemetery funeral service instead of the traditional prayer during Jewish holidays.

The standard Hebrew text used in Judaism is the Masoretic text developed between the seventh and tenth centuries CE. The most widely used English translation among Jews is the New JPS "Tanakh" (1985). An earlier JPS translation, published in 1917, also remains in common use.

In Christian tradition

For Christians the image of God as a shepherd evokes connections not only with David but with Jesus, described as "the Good Shepherd" in the Gospel of John.

Orthodox Christians typically include the Psalm in the prayers of preparation for receiving the Eucharist.

The Reformation inspired widespread efforts in western Europe to make biblical texts available in vernacular languages. One of the most popular early English versions was the Geneva Bible (1557). The most widely recognized version of the psalm in English today is undoubtedly the one drawn from the King James Bible (1611).

The psalm is a popular passage for memorization.

Metrical versions

An early metrical version of the psalm in English was made in 1565 by Thomas Sternhold. Other metrical versions to emerge from the Reformation include those from "The Bay Psalm Book" (1640) [ [http://www.smithcreekmusic.com/Hymnology/Metrical.Psalmody/Psalm23.compared.html Smith Creek Music: 'Psalms Compared: Psalm 23', retrieved 2007-08-05.] ] and a version influenced by Sternholm published in the Scottish Psalter (1650). [ [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/scotpsalter.p24.html Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases] at CCEL] The latter version is still encountered, with modernized spelling, in many Protestant hymns. Other notable metrical versions include those by George Herbert and Isaac Watts. [ [http://www.smithcreekmusic.com/Hymnology/Metrical.Psalmody/Psalm23.compared.html Smith Creek Music: 'Psalms Compared: Psalm 23', retrieved 2007-08-05.] ]

A traditional pairing puts a metrical version of the psalm with the hymn tune "Crimond". Other melodies, such as Brother James' Air or Amazing Grace, are also used. Other tunes sometimes used include "Belmont", "Evan", "Martyrdom", "Orlington", and "Wiltshire." [ [http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/m/lmysheph.htm] Cyberhymnal]

Use in funerals

All traditions in Christianity feature the psalm prominently in funeral services. The Book of Common Prayer (1662) ensured its place in the memorial rituals of English-speaking cultures.

In the twentieth century, Psalm 23 became particularly associated with funeral liturgies in the English-speaking world. Films with funeral scenes often depict a graveside recitation of the psalm, though the official liturgies of English-speaking churches were slow to adopt this practice.

Musical settings

Liturgical and classical

*James Leith Macbeth Bain - hymn tune "Brother James' Air" [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A751727 BBC h2g2 Psalm 23] ]
*Leonard Bernstein - "Chichester Psalms" (Hebrew)
*Paul Creston - "Psalm XXIII" (1945)
*Herbert Howells - "Hymnus Paradisi"
*Jessie Seymour Irvine - hymn tune "Crimond" [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A751727 BBC h2g2 Psalm 23] ]
*Clément Marot - (Latin)
*Kirke MechemFact|date=June 2008
*George RochbergFact|date=June 2008
*Miklós RózsaFact|date=June 2008
*John Rutter - "Requiem"
*Franz Schubert - version by Moses Mendelssohn (German)
*Randall ThompsonFact|date=June 2008
*Virgil ThomsonFact|date=June 2008
*Ralph Vaughan WilliamsFact|date=June 2008
*Charles Villiers StanfordFact|date=June 2008

ong

*Jonathan Elias - "Forgiveness" from album "The Prayer Cycle"
*Duke Ellington - 1958 album "Black, Brown and Beige" with Mahalia Jackson
*Jon Foreman - The House of God Forever, from album "Summer (Jon Foreman EP)"
*Howard Goodall - theme to "The Vicar of Dibley"
*Group 1 Crew - album "Group 1 Crew"
*Colin Mawby - 1998 recording with Charlotte Church
*Bobby McFerrin - album "Medicine Music"
*E Nomine - album "Das Testament"

References in popular media and culture

The psalm is often alluded to, and sometimes modified, in popular media.

ong

*Alice in Chains - song "Sickman" from album "Dirt"
*Anti-Flag - song "Shadow of the Dead" from album "The Bright Lights of America"
*Buju Banton - song
*Coolio - song "Gangsta's Paradise"
*Dierks Bentley - song "Distant Shore"
*DragonForce - merchandise
*Dream Theater - song "In the Presence of Enemies" from album "Systematic Chaos"
*The Eagles - song "Long Road Out of Eden" from album "Long Road Out of Eden"
*Good Charlotte - song "The River" from album "Good Morning Revival"
*The Grateful Dead - song "Ripple" from album "American Beauty" and the song "We Bid You Goodnight" sung at the close of many of their concerts.
*Kanye West - song "Jesus Walks"
*Mägo de Oz - song "Gaia" (Spanish)
*Medicine Show - song "Along The Southern Coast"
*Megadeth - song "Shadow Of Deth" from the album "The System Has Failed"
*Ministry - song "No W"
*Marilyn Manson - album "Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)"
*Notorious B.I.G. - song "You're Nobody (Till Somebody Kills You)" from album "Life After Death"
*The Offspring - Hammerhead, on their album "Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace"
*Orphaned Land - song "Aldiar Al Mukadisa" from album "Sahara" (in Hebrew)
*Pink Floyd - song "Sheep" from album "Animals"
*Shlomo Carlebach - song "Gam Ki Elech" (in Hebrew)
*Strawbs - song "Lay Down", 1973
*Peter Tosh - song "Jah Guide" from album "Equal Rights"
*U2 with Bob Dylan - song "Love Rescue Me" from album "Rattle and Hum"

Film and television

*Bruce Almighty - 2003 film
*Deep Blue Sea - 1999 film
*The Elephant Man - film
*Gallipoli - 1981 film
*Jarhead - 2005 film
*Lifeboat - 1944 Hitchcock film
*Lost - TV series
*Love and Death - film
*Oz" - TV series
*Prison Break - TV series
*Pulp Fiction - film
*The Scarlet Pimpernel - 1982 BBC movie
*Sister Act - 1992 film
*Supernatural - TV series
*Titanic - 1997 film
*Van Helsing - film
*Varsity Blues - film
*The War of the Worlds - 1953 film
*We Were Soldiers - film
*The Wicker Man - film
* - film
*Prison Break Season 1 - Episode 13 - TV series

Fiction

*Terry Brooks - novel "The Gypsy Morph"
*Alex Garland - novel "The Beach"
*Stephen King - novel "Salem's Lot"
*Stephen King - novel "The Stand"
*V - novel "V for Vendetta"
*Kurt Vonnegut - novel "Cat's Cradle"

Miscellaneous

*George W. Bush - address following September 11, 2001 attacks
*Patti Smith - poem "ps/alm 23 revisited" in 1994 book "Early Work"
*West Bromwich Albion F.C. - Football Anthem
*Virgin Megastores - 2007 advertising campaign

Media

columns
col1 = Sound sample box align left|Crimond:Listen
filename=HWW_The_Lords_My_Shepherd_Crimond.ogg
title=By Jessie S Irvine
description=02:47 Orchestral arrangement 5 Verses with intro
format=Ogg
col2 = Sound sample box align left|Brother James' Air:Listen
filename=HWW_The_Lords_my_shepherd_Brother_James_Air.ogg
title=By James Leith Macbeth Bain
description=02:36 Orchestral arrangement 5 Verses with intro
format=Ogg

References

External links

* [http://zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=28 Hebrew text, translation, transliteration, recorded melodies from The Zemirot Database]
* [http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=16244 Tehillim - Psalm 23 (Judaica Press)] translation with Rashi's commentary.
* [http://media.snunit.k12.il/kodeshm/mp3/t2623.mp3 Psalm 23 recited in Hebrew]